Pellet grills

ABSTRACT

Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a one or more processors configured to detect an improper shutdown of a control system of the pellet grill. The one or more processors are further configured to generate a notification in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown, the notification indicating that the control system was improperly shutdown. The one or more processors are further configured to cause the notification to be presented at a user interface of the pellet grill.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/796,861, filed Jan. 25, 2019, and to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/891,011, filed Aug. 23, 2019. The entireties of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/796,861 and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/891,011 are hereby incorporated by referenceherein.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to grills and, more specifically, topellet grills.

BACKGROUND

Pellet grills are electronically-controlled cooking devices that areconfigured to cook (e.g., smoke, grill, bake, roast, broil, sear, and/orotherwise heat) food items located within (e.g., placed on one or morecooking grate(s) positioned within) a cooking chamber of the pelletgrill. The controllable electronic components of the pellet grill can bepowered via AC power (e.g., supplied to the pellet grill via householdelectricity or wall power) or DC power (e.g., supplied via an on-boardor connected battery and/or DC power supply).

Conventional pellet grills store a volume of combustible pellet fuel(e.g., wood-based pellets) in a hopper that is mounted and/or coupled tothe pellet grill. A motor-driven auger in communication with an exitopening of the hopper feeds and/or supplies the pellet fuel from thehopper into a burn pot of the pellet grill in a controlled and/orautomated manner. The speed, rate, and/or duty cycle of the auger istypically based on a user-selected temperature (e.g., a temperaturesetpoint) that is established and/or desired for the cooking chamber ofthe pellet grill. Pellet fuel that is deposited in the burn pot caninitially be ignited via an electronic starter of the pellet grill.

Combustion and/or burning of the pellet fuel within the burn potproduces, generates, and/or outputs heat which is subsequentlydistributed throughout the cooking chamber in a manner that causes thefood items located within the cooking chamber to gradually becomecooked. A motor-driven fan is typically implemented to assist withcombusting the pellet fuel, and/or to assist with distributing and/orcirculating heat (e.g., as may be produced by the combusted pellet fuel)throughout the cooking chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of an example pellet grillconstructed in accordance with teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the pellet grill of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is a first side view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 7 is a second side view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-6.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-7.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-9 takenalong section A-A of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-10taken along section B-B of FIG. 4.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-11 with alid of the pellet grill in an example open position.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-12 with awaste collection drawer of the pellet grill in an example open position.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the hopper of the pellet grill of FIGS.1-13.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the hopper of FIG. 14 with a lid of thehopper in an example open position.

FIG. 16 is a front view of the hopper of FIGS. 14 and 15.

FIG. 17 is a rear view of the hopper of FIGS. 14-16.

FIG. 18 is a first side view of the hopper of FIGS. 14-17.

FIG. 19 is a second side view of the hopper of FIGS. 14-18.

FIG. 20 is a top view of the hopper of FIGS. 14-19.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the hopper of FIGS. 14-20 takenalong section C-C of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a first perspective view of the engine of the pellet grill ofFIGS. 1-13.

FIG. 23 is a second perspective view of the engine of FIG. 22

FIGS. 24A and 24B are exploded views of the engine of FIGS. 22 and 23.

FIG. 25 is a first side view of the engine of FIGS. 22-24.

FIG. 26 is a second side view of the engine of FIGS. 22-25.

FIG. 27 is a front view of the engine of FIGS. 22-26.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the engine of FIGS. 22-27 takenalong section D-D of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a top view of the engine of FIGS. 22-28.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the engine of FIGS. 22-29 takenalong section E-E of FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is a first perspective view of the burn pot of the engine ofFIGS. 22-30.

FIG. 32 is a second perspective view of the burn pot of FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is an exploded view of the burn pot of FIGS. 31 and 32.

FIG. 34 is a rear view of the burn pot of FIGS. 31-33.

FIG. 35 is a side view of the burn pot of FIGS. 31-34.

FIG. 36 is a top view of the burn pot of FIGS. 31-35.

FIG. 37 is a bottom view of the burn pot of FIGS. 31-36.

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of the burn pot of FIGS. 31-37 takenalong section F-F of FIG. 34.

FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of the burn pot of FIGS. 31-38 takenalong section G-G of FIG. 36.

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of the fuel grate of the burn pot of FIGS.31-39.

FIG. 41 is a side view of the fuel grate of FIG. 40.

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of the heat diffuser of the pellet grillof FIGS. 1-13.

FIG. 43 is a front view of the heat diffuser of FIG. 42.

FIG. 44 is a side view of the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42 and 43.

FIG. 45 is a top view of the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-44.

FIG. 46 is a cross-sectional view of the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-45taken along section H-H of FIG. 45.

FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view of the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-46taken along section I-I of FIG. 45.

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-47positioned over the burn pot of FIGS. 22-39.

FIG. 49 is a top view of the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-47 positionedover the burn pot of FIGS. 22-39.

FIG. 50 is a cross-sectional view of the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-47positioned over the burn pot of FIGS. 22-39, taken along section J-J ofFIG. 49.

FIG. 51 is a front view of the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-47 positionedover the burn pot of FIGS. 22-39.

FIG. 52 is a cross-sectional view of the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-47positioned over the burn pot of FIGS. 22-39, taken along section K-K ofFIG. 51.

FIG. 53 is a perspective view of the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-47positioned relative to the engine of FIGS. 22-30.

FIG. 54 is a partial cutaway view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13showing the grease deflection bar assembly.

FIG. 55 is a perspective view of the grease deflection bar assembly ofFIG. 54.

FIG. 56 is a top view of the grease deflection bar assembly of FIGS. 54and 55.

FIG. 57 is a front view of the grease deflection bar assembly of FIGS.54-56.

FIG. 58 is a side view of the grease deflection bar assembly of FIGS.54-57.

FIG. 59 is a front view of the grease deflection bar assembly of FIGS.54-58 positioned over the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-53 and the burn potof FIGS. 22-39.

FIG. 60 is a side view of the grease deflection bar assembly of FIGS.54-58 positioned over the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-53 and the burn potof FIGS. 22-39.

FIG. 61 is a front view of the grease deflection bar assembly of FIGS.54-58 positioned over the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-53 and the burn potof FIGS. 22-39, with hidden lines shown.

FIG. 62 is a side view of the grease deflection bar assembly of FIGS.54-58 positioned over the heat diffuser of FIGS. 42-53 and the burn potof FIGS. 22-39, with hidden lines shown.

FIG. 63 is a perspective view of the waste collection drawer of thepellet grill of FIGS. 1-13.

FIG. 64 is an exploded view of the waste collection drawer of FIG. 63.

FIG. 65 is a front view of the waste collection drawer of FIGS. 63 and64.

FIG. 66 is a rear view of the waste collection drawer of FIGS. 63-65.

FIG. 67 is a top view of the waste collection drawer of FIGS. 63-66.

FIG. 68 is a cross-sectional view of the waste collection drawer ofFIGS. 63-67 taken along section L-L of FIG. 67.

FIG. 69 is a cross-sectional view of the waste collection drawer ofFIGS. 63-68 taken along section M-M of FIG. 67.

FIG. 70 is a front view of a portion of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13with the waste collection drawer of FIGS. 63-69 located below the mainbody in an example closed position.

FIG. 71 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 70 taken along section N-N ofFIG. 70.

FIG. 72 is a front view of a portion of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13with an alternate waste collection drawer located below the main body inan example closed position.

FIG. 73 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 72 taken along section O-O ofFIG. 72.

FIG. 74 is a perspective view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13 with thehinges of the lid of the pellet grill in an example open position.

FIG. 75 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 74.

FIG. 76 is a front view of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13 with thehinges of the lid of the pellet grill in an example open position.

FIG. 77 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 76 taken along section P-P ofFIG. 76.

FIG. 78 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 76 taken along section Q-Q ofFIG. 76.

FIG. 79 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 76 taken along section R-R ofFIG. 76.

FIG. 80 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 78.

FIG. 81 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 79.

FIG. 82 is a block diagram of an example control system to beimplemented in connection with the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13.

FIG. 83 is a flowchart representative of an example method forimplementing an auger jam detection protocol and/or process via thecontrol system of FIG. 82.

FIG. 84 is a flowchart representative of an example method forimplementing a lid movement detection protocol and/or process via thecontrol system of FIG. 82.

FIG. 85 is a flowchart representative of an example method forimplementing a flame out detection protocol and/or process via thecontrol system of FIG. 82.

FIG. 86 is a flowchart representative of an example method forimplementing a low fuel detection protocol and/or process via thecontrol system of FIG. 82.

FIGS. 87A and 87B are a flowchart representing an example method forimplementing an end-of-cook detection protocol and/or process via thecontrol system of FIG. 82.

FIG. 88 is a flowchart representing an example method for implementing ashutdown protocol and/or process via the control system of FIG. 82.

FIG. 89 is a flowchart representing an example method for implementing afirst improper shutdown detection protocol and/or process via thecontrol system of FIG. 82.

FIG. 90 is a flowchart representing an example method for implementing asecond improper shutdown detection protocol and/or process via thecontrol system of FIG. 82.

FIG. 91 is a flowchart representative of an example method forimplementing an ignitor duty cycle detection protocol and/or process viathe control system of FIG. 82.

FIG. 92 is a flowchart representative of an example method forimplementing a waste collection drawer duty cycle detection protocoland/or process via the control system of FIG. 82.

FIG. 93 is a first perspective view of an alternate example engine ofthe pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13.

FIG. 94 is a second perspective view of the engine of FIG. 93.

FIGS. 95A and 95B are exploded views of the engine of FIGS. 93 and 94.

FIG. 96 is a first side view of the engine of FIGS. 93-95.

FIG. 97 is a second side view of the engine of FIGS. 93-96.

FIG. 98 is a front view of the engine of FIGS. 93-97.

FIG. 99 is a cross-sectional view of the engine of FIGS. 93-98 takenalong section S-S of FIG. 98.

FIG. 100 is a top view of the engine of FIGS. 93-99.

FIG. 101 is a cross-sectional view of the engine of FIGS. 93-100 takenalong section T-T of FIG. 100.

FIG. 102 is a cross-sectional view of the engine of FIGS. 93-101 takenalong section U-U of FIG. 97.

FIG. 103 is a perspective view of an alternate example grease deflectionbar assembly of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13.

FIG. 104 is top view of the grease deflection bar assembly of FIG. 103positioned within the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13.

FIG. 105 is a cross-sectional view of the grease deflection bar assemblyof FIGS. 103 and 104 taken along section V-V of FIG. 104.

FIG. 106 is a cross-sectional view of the grease deflection bar assemblyof FIGS. 103-105 taken along section W-W of FIG. 104.

FIG. 107 is a perspective view of an alternate example waste collectiondrawer of the pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13.

FIG. 108 is an exploded view of the waste collection drawer of FIG. 107.

FIG. 109 is a front view of the waste collection drawer of FIGS. 107 and108.

FIG. 110 is a rear view of the waste collection drawer of FIGS. 107-109.

FIG. 111 is a top view of the waste collection drawer of FIGS. 107-110.

FIG. 112 is a cross-sectional view of the waste collection drawer ofFIGS. 107-111 taken along section X-X of FIG. 111.

FIG. 113 is a cross-sectional view of the waste collection drawer ofFIGS. 107-112 taken along section Y-Y of FIG. 111.

Certain examples are shown in the above-identified figures and describedin detail below. In describing these examples, like or identicalreference numbers are used to identify the same or similar elements. Thefigures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certainviews of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematicfor clarity and/or conciseness.

Descriptors “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. are used herein whenidentifying multiple elements or components which may be referred toseparately. Unless otherwise specified or understood based on theircontext of use, such descriptors are not intended to impute any meaningof priority or ordering in time but merely as labels for referring tomultiple elements or components separately for ease of understanding thedisclosed examples. In some examples, the descriptor “first” may be usedto refer to an element in the detailed description, while the sameelement may be referred to in a claim with a different descriptor suchas “second” or “third.” In such instances, it should be understood thatsuch descriptors are used merely for ease of referencing multipleelements or components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example pellet grills disclosed herein include features that providenumerous advantages over conventional pellet grills. As one example, thedisclosed pellet grills include a burn pot having a sidewall that tapersinwardly toward a central axis of the burn pot as the sidewall extendsfrom a lower (e.g., bottom) surface of the burn pot to an upper (e.g.,top) surface of the burn pot. In some examples, the burn pot has aconical shape defined in part by the inwardly-tapered sidewall of theburn pot. The inwardly-tapered sidewall centralizes and/or concentratesheat that is produced and/or generated within the burn pot by combustedpellet fuel, thereby advantageously enabling the production, generation,and/or output of higher cooking temperatures over the burn pot. Theinwardly-tapered sidewall also advantageously restricts and/or reducesthe ability of ash (e.g., as may be generated during combustion and/orburning of the pellet fuel) from escaping upwardly from the burn pot andentering the cooking chamber of the pellet grill.

As another example, the disclosed pellet grills include a burn pothaving a fuel grate positioned and/or located toward the lower (e.g.,bottom) surface of the burn pot. The fuel grate includes a plurality ofopenings (e.g., slots and/or holes) that are configured (e.g. sized,shaped and/or arranged) to retain and/or support pellet fuel that hasnot yet been combusted. As the pellet fuel supported by the fuel grateis combusted and/or burns, ash produced and/or generated during thecombustion and/or burning falls through the openings of the fuel grateonto an ash slide, and/or into an ash collection bin. The fuel grateadvantageously facilitates the passage of ash (e.g., as may be producedand/or generated during combustion and/or burning of the pellet fuel)downwardly (e.g., through the openings of the fuel grate) from the burnput, which in turn reduces the ability of ash from escaping upwardlyfrom the burn pot and entering the cooking chamber of the pellet grill.

In some examples, the fuel grate of the burn pot further includes atrough that is configured to funnel, direct and/or collect pellet fuelthat has been deposited into the burn pot toward and/or within acentralized position and/or location of the fuel grate. In someexamples, an ignitor extends into the trough. In such examples, thetrough of the fuel grate advantageously directs and/or collects pelletfuel toward and/or within a centralized position and/or location of thefuel grate, thereby causing the collected pellet fuel to be placedadjacent and/or in contact with the ignitor. Centralizing and/orlocalizing pellet fuel within the trough as described above isadvantageous for startup and/or initiating combustion of the pelletfuel. Centralizing and/or localizing pellet fuel within the trough asdescribed above is also advantageous for low-temperature cookingoperations (e.g., smoking) in which the burn pot will contain arelatively low volume of pellet fuel.

As another example, the disclosed pellet grills include a burn pothaving a sidewall that includes an opening formed therein, with theopening being configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) toslidingly receive an ignitor. In some examples, the ignitor can be slid(e.g., by a user) into the burn pot and/or removed from the burn pot viathe opening formed in the sidewall of the burn pot. In some examples,the above-described trough of the fuel grate includes an opening that isaligned with the opening formed in the sidewall of the burn pot, therebyenabling the ignitor to be slid into the trough via the opening formedin the sidewall of the burn pot and further via the opening formed inthe trough. In some examples, the ignitor is carried and/or supported byan ignitor carrier that extends rearwardly from the burn pot and isslidable relative thereto (e.g., toward and/or away from the burn pot).In some examples, the ignitor carrier is accessible to a user of thepellet grill from the rear of the pellet grill (e.g., via an access doorof a rear-mounted hopper), thereby advantageously enabling the user toslide and/or guide the ignitor, via the ignitor carrier, into and/or outof the opening formed in the sidewall of the burn pot.

As another example, the disclosed pellet grills include a rectangularbox-shaped heat diffuser having an open bottom, four closed sidewalls,and a closed top. The heat diffuser is positioned and/or located withinthe pellet grill at a centralized position and/or location above theburn pot of the pellet grill. In some examples, a central axis of theheat diffuser is coaxially aligned with a central axis of the burn pot.The heat diffuser is configured (e.g., sized, shaped, and/or positionedrelative to the burn pot) to receive heat emanating from and/or outputby the burn pot, and to advantageously optimize the distribution of thereceived heat throughout the cooking chamber of the pellet grill. Thesize, shape and/or positioning of the heat diffuser relative to the burnpot also advantageously restricts and/or reduces the ability of any ash(e.g., as may be produced and/or generated during combustion and/orburning of the pellet fuel) that might escape upwardly from the burn potfrom entering the cooking chamber of the pellet grill.

As another example, the disclosed pellet grills include a greasedeflection bar (e.g., a FLAVORIZER® bar) assembly having front and rearracks that are configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) toreceive a first (e.g., large) grease deflection bar extending betweenthe front and rear racks, and one or more second (e.g., small) greasedeflection bar(s) extending between the front and rear racks atlocations that are laterally spaced apart from that of the first greasedeflection bar. In some examples, the first grease deflection bar ispositioned and/or located within the pellet grill at a centralizedposition and/or location above the heat diffuser and/or above the burnpot of the pellet grill. The first grease deflection bar has a lateralextent that is equal to and/or greater than the lateral extent of theheat diffuser and/or the lateral extent of the burn pot. The firstgrease deflection bar advantageously directs grease (e.g., as may bereceived at the first grease deflection bar from food being cooked on acooking grate positioned above the first grease deflection bar) towardone or more grease slot(s) formed in the bottom of the cooking chamberof the pellet grill. The lateral extent of the first grease deflectionbar advantageously restricts and/or reduces the ability of grease fromcontacting and/or entering the heat diffuser and/or the burn pot. Insome examples, the various components of the grease deflection barassembly can be removed from the pellet grill without requiring removalof any mechanical fasteners, thereby improving the ease with which thefirst and second grease deflection bars and/or the front and rear rackscan be cleaned and/or replaced, and/or improving the ease with which auser can access the portions of the cooking chamber of the pellet grillthat would otherwise be obstructed by the components of the greasedeflection bar assembly.

As another example, the disclosed pellet grills include a wastecollection drawer that includes an ash collection bin and a greasecollection bin. The waste collection drawer is positioned and/or locatedbelow the bottom of the cooking chamber of the pellet grill, and ismovable between a closed position and an open position. When the wastecollection drawer is in the closed position, the ash collection bin ispositioned and/or located below (e.g., in vertical alignment with) thefuel grate of the burn pot of the pellet grill, and/or below (e.g., invertical alignment with) an ash slide located below the fuel grate ofthe burn pot, and the grease collection bin is positioned and/or locatedbelow (e.g., in vertical alignment with) the grease channels formed(e.g., stamped) in the bottom of the cooking chamber of the pelletgrill. Thus, the waste collection drawer is advantageously configured(e.g., sized, shaped and/or positioned) to collect ash in the ashcollection bin and to collect grease in the grease collection bin. Whenthe waste collection drawer is in the open position, the ash collectionbin and the grease collection bin can be removed (e.g., independentlyremoved) from the drawer to facilitate emptying and/or disposing of therespective contents (e.g., ash and/or grease) thereof.

As another example, the disclosed pellet grills include a control systemthat implements, manages, and/or controls various detection protocolsand/or processes which are advantageous to the operation and/or use of apellet grill. For example, the control system of the pellet grill mayimplement, manage and/or control an auger jam detection protocol and/orprocess, a lid movement detection protocol and/or process, a flame outdetection protocol and/or process, a low fuel detection protocol and/orprocess, an end-of-cook detection protocol and/or process, a shutdownprotocol and/or process, an improper shutdown detection protocol and/orprocess, an ignitor duty cycle detection protocol and/or process, and/ora waste collection drawer duty cycle detection protocol and/or process,as further described herein.

In some examples, the control system of the pellet grill implements,manages, and/or controls an auger jam detection protocol and/or processin connection with an auger and/or an auger motor of an engine of thepellet grill. The control system is configured to detect a jam of theauger (e.g., resulting from expanded, swelled, overly-packed, and/orotherwise clogged pellet fuel). In some examples, the jam of the augeris detected based on an increased torque demand associated with theauger motor that is sensed, measured and/or detected by the controlsystem. In response to detecting the jam of the auger, the controlsystem commands the auger motor to modify (e.g. reverse) the directionof rotation of the auger (e.g., from a clockwise rotation to acounterclockwise rotation, or vice-versa) to advantageously facilitateclearing the jam. In some examples, the control system commands theauger motor to reverse the direction of rotation of the auger a singletime. In other examples, the control system commands the auger motor tofrequently reverse the existing direction of rotation of the auger in amanner that results in the rotation of the auger being pulsed between afirst direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation oppositethe first direction of rotation.

In some examples, the control system generates (e.g., in the form of acommand, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on a user interface of the pellet grillin connection with detecting the jam of the auger. The notification(s)and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example, that a jam has been detected,that the detected jam has been cleared successfully, and/or that thedetected jam has not been cleared successfully. The control system canadditionally or alternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be wirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill to a remotedevice (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer,a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

In some examples, the control system of the pellet grill implements,manages, and/or controls a lid movement detection protocol and/orprocess in connection with a lid and/or an engine of the pellet grill.The control system is configured to detect a lid opening movement (e.g.,moving the lid from a closed position to an open position), as may beindicated by detection of a rapid decline of a cooking chambertemperature relative to a temperature setpoint associated with thecooking chamber. The control system is further configured to detect alid closing movement (e.g., moving the lid from an open position to aclosed position), as may be indicated by detection of a stabilizationand/or an initial recovery of the cooking chamber temperature toward thetemperature setpoint subsequent to the above-described detection of therapid decline of the cooking chamber temperature. In some examples, thelid opening and/or lid closing movement(s) is/are detected based on datathat is sensed and/or measured by a temperature sensor of the controlsystem. In other examples, the lid opening and/or lid closingmovement(s) is/are additionally or alternatively detected based on datathat is sensed and/or measured by a lid position sensor of the controlsystem. In response to detecting the lid opening and/or the lid closingmovement(s), the control system commands an auger motor and/or, moregenerally, the engine of the pellet grill to operate in an increasedoutput mode that increases (e.g., maximizes) the heat output of theengine for a predetermined period of time, and/or until a temperature ofthe cooking chamber of the pellet grill recovers to a temperaturesetpoint associated with the cooking chamber.

In some examples, the control system generates (e.g., in the form of acommand, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on a user interface of the pellet grillin connection with detecting the lid opening and/or the lid closingmovement(s). The notification(s) and/or alert(s) may indicate, forexample, that a lid opening movement has been detected, and/or that alid closing movement has been detected. The control system canadditionally or alternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be wirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill to a remotedevice (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer,a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

In some examples, the control system of the pellet grill implements,manages, and/or controls a flame out detection protocol and/or processin connection with an engine of the pellet grill. The control system isconfigured to detect the existence of a flame out condition (e.g., anunintended cessation of fuel combustion), as may be indicated bydetection of a continually declining temperature of the cooking chamberover a period of time while the auger of the engine is activelyattempting to feed and/or supply pellet fuel to the burn pot of theengine. In some examples, the flame out condition is detected based ondata that is sensed, measured and/or detected by a temperature sensor ofthe pellet grill. In response to detecting the flame out condition, thecontrol system commands the ignitor of the engine to activate and/orfire, thereby causing the pellet fuel present in the burn pot of theengine to resume combustion and/or burning.

In some examples, the control system generates (e.g., in the form of acommand, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on a user interface of the pellet grillin connection with detecting the flame out condition. Thenotification(s) and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example, that a flameout condition has been detected, that the flame out condition has beenremedied successfully, and/or that the flame out condition has not beenremedied successfully. The control system can additionally oralternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to bewirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill to a remote device (e.g., acloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a personalcomputer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

In some examples, the control system of the pellet grill implements,manages, and/or controls a low fuel detection protocol and/or process inconnection with a hopper and/or an engine of the pellet grill. Thecontrol system is configured to detect that the volume and/or level ofpellet fuel remaining in the hopper has fallen below a threshold. Insome examples, the volume and/or level of the pellet fuel remaining inthe hopper is detected based on data that is sensed and/or measured by afuel level sensor of the pellet grill. In response to detecting the lowfuel condition, the control system commands an auger motor and/or, moregenerally, an engine of the pellet grill to operate in a reduced outputmode that decreases (e.g., minimizes) the heat output of the engineand/or decreases (e.g., minimizes) the rate at which pellet fuel isconsumed, thereby prolonging the relative amount of time before thehopper will run out of pellet fuel.

In some examples, the control system generates (e.g., in the form of acommand, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on a user interface of the pellet grillin connection with detecting the low fuel condition. The notification(s)and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example, that a low fuel condition hasbeen detected, that the low fuel condition has been remediedsuccessfully, and/or that the low fuel condition has not been remediedsuccessfully. The control system can additionally or alternatively causethe generated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelesslytransmitted from the pellet grill to a remote device (e.g., a cloudserver, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a personal computer,etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

In some examples, the control system of the pellet grill implements,manages, and/or controls an end-of-cook detection protocol and/orprocess in connection with an engine of the pellet grill. The controlsystem is configured to detect that a cooking operation associated withthe pellet grill is complete (e.g., that an “end-of-cook” condition hasoccurred), as may be indicated by the temperature of an item of foodbeing cooked on the pellet grill reaching a temperature setpoint for theitem of food. In some examples, the end-of-cook condition is detectedbased on data that is sensed and/or measured by a food probe of thecontrol system. In response to detecting the end-of-cook condition, thecontrol system commands an auger motor and/or, more generally, theengine of the pellet grill to operate in a reduced output mode thatdecreases (e.g., minimizes) the heat output of the engine until a lidopening movement associated with the lid of the pellet grill has beendetected, and/or until an input has been received via a user interfaceof the control system indicating whether the cooking operationassociated with the item of food is to continue and/or whether ashutdown sequence of the pellet grill is to be initiated.

In some examples, the control system generates (e.g., in the form of acommand, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on a user interface of the pellet grillin connection with detecting the end-of-cook condition. Thenotification(s) and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example, that anend-of cook condition has been detected, that a user input via the userinterface is requested, and/or that the requested user input has beenreceived via the user interface. The control system can additionally oralternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to bewirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill to a remote device (e.g., acloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a personalcomputer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

In some examples, the control system of the pellet grill implements,manages, and/or controls a shutdown protocol and/or process inconnection with an engine of the pellet grill. The control system isconfigured to detect that a shutdown sequence has been initiated. Insome examples, the initiation of the shutdown sequence is detected basedon an input received from a user interface of the control system. Inresponse to detecting the initiation of the shutdown sequence, thecontrol system commands an auger motor of the engine to reverse thedirection of rotation of an auger of the engine (e.g., from a clockwiserotation to a counterclockwise rotation, or vice-versa) toadvantageously facilitate purging pellet fuel away from a burn pot ofthe engine, and back toward a hopper of the pellet grill.

In some examples, the control system generates (e.g., in the form of acommand, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on a user interface of the pellet grillin connection with detecting the initiation of the shutdown sequence.The notification(s) and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example, thatinitiation of the shutdown sequence has been detected, and/or that theshutdown sequence has been completed. The control system canadditionally or alternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be wirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill to a remotedevice (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer,a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

In some examples, the control system of the pellet grill implements,manages, and/or controls an improper shutdown detection protocol and/orprocess in connection with an engine of the pellet grill. The controlsystem is configured to detect that the engine and/or, more generally,the pellet grill has been improperly shutdown (e.g., that an impropershutdown condition has occurred), as may be indicated by an unexpectedloss of power resulting from a power outage associated with an AC linepower source that is coupled to the pellet grill, or resulting from ahard kill of the control system of the pellet grill prior to completionof a shutdown sequence of the pellet grill. In response to the controlsystem and/or, more generally, the pellet grill being powered onfollowing detection of the improper shutdown condition, the controlsystem commands the engine of the pellet grill to initiate a diagnosticcheck sequence and/or a startup sequence.

In some examples, the control system generates (e.g., in the form of acommand, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on a user interface of the pellet grillin connection with detecting the improper shutdown condition. Thenotification(s) and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example, that animproper shutdown condition has been detected, that a diagnostic checkhas been initiated and/or completed, that a startup sequence has beeninitiated and/or completed, and/or that a startup sequence cannot beinitiated and/or completed. The control system can additionally oralternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to bewirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill to a remote device (e.g., acloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a personalcomputer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

In some examples, the control system of the pellet grill implements,manages, and/or controls an ignitor duty cycle detection protocol and/orprocess in connection with an ignitor of the pellet grill. The controlsystem is configured to detect that the duty cycle of the ignitor (e.g.,a consumed number or a remaining number of activations and/or firings ofthe ignitor) has violated a threshold (e.g., exceeded a maximum consumedlife threshold, or fallen below a minimum remaining life threshold). Insome examples, the duty cycle of the ignitor is detected based onignitor use data that is sensed, measured and/or detected by the controlsystem. In some examples, the threshold is a maximum consumed lifethreshold for the ignitor. In other examples, the threshold is a minimumremaining life threshold for the ignitor.

In some examples, the control system generate (e.g., in the form of acommand, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on a user interface of the pellet grillin connection with detecting that the duty cycle of the ignitor hasviolated the threshold. The notification(s) and/or alert(s) mayindicate, for example, that the duty cycle of the ignitor has violatedthe threshold, and/or that the duty cycle of the ignitor has been reset.The control system can additionally or alternatively cause the generatednotification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmitted from thepellet grill to a remote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, atablet, a laptop computer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentationand/or analysis thereon.

In some examples, the control system of the pellet grill implements,manages, and/or controls a waste collection drawer duty cycle detectionprotocol and/or process in connection with a waste collection drawer ofthe pellet grill. The control system is configured to detect that theduty cycle of the waste collection drawer (e.g., a consumed period oftime and/or number of cooks since one or more bin(s) of the wastecollection drawer was/were last emptied, or a remaining period of timeand/or number of cooks until one or more bin(s) of the waste collectiondrawer is/are next due to be emptied) has violated a threshold (e.g.,exceeded a maximum consumed use threshold, or fallen below a minimumremaining use threshold). In some examples, the duty cycle of the wastecollection drawer is detected based on waste collection drawer use datathat is sensed, measured and/or detected by the control system. In someexamples, the threshold is a maximum consumed use threshold for one ormore bin(s) of the waste collection drawer. In other examples, thethreshold is a minimum remaining use threshold for one or more bin(s) ofthe waste collection drawer.

In some examples, the control system generates (e.g., in the form of acommand, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on a user interface of the pellet grillin connection with detecting that the duty cycle of the waste collectiondrawer has violated the threshold. The notification(s) and/or alert(s)may indicate, for example, that the duty cycle of the waste collectiondrawer has violated the threshold, and/or that the duty cycle of thewaste collection drawer has been reset. The control system canadditionally or alternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be wirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill to a remotedevice (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer,a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

The above-identified features as well as other advantageous features ofthe disclosed pellet grills are further described below in connectionwith the figures of the application.

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of an example pellet grill 100constructed in accordance with teachings of this disclosure. FIG. 2 is asecond perspective view of the pellet grill 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is anexploded view of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is afront view of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 5 is a rear viewof the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-4. FIG. 6 is a first (e.g., left)side view of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-5. FIG. 7 is a second(e.g., right) side view of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-6. FIG. 8 isa top view of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-7. FIG. 9 is a bottom viewof the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-8. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional viewof the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-9 taken along section A-A of FIG. 8.FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-10taken along section B-B of FIG. 4. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of thepellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-11 with a lid of the pellet grill 100 in anexample open position. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the pellet grill100 of FIGS. 1-12 with a waste collection drawer of the pellet grill 100in an example open position.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 1-13, the pellet grill 100 includesan example main body 102. The main body 102 of the pellet grill 100 isformed and/or defined via an example first (e.g., left) end cap 104, anexample second (e.g., right) end cap 106 located opposite the first endcap 104, and an example outer wall 108 that extends between the firstand second end caps 104, 106. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, 6 and 7, the firstand second end caps 104, 106 of the main body 102 have an oval and/orpill-shaped profile. The outer wall 108 of the main body 102 has an ovaland/or pill-shaped cross-sectional structure that generally correspondsto the oval and/or pill-shaped profile of the first and second end caps104, 106.

As shown in FIGS. 10-12, the first end cap 104, the second end cap 106,the outer wall 108 and/or, more generally, the main body 102 of thepellet grill 100 define(s) an example cooking chamber 1002 of the pelletgrill 100 located within the main body 102. The cooking chamber 1002and/or, more generally, the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100includes an example first cooking grate 302 and an example secondcooking grate 304 that respectively support food items that are cooked,cooking, and/or to be cooked within the cooking chamber 1002. In someexamples, the first cooking grate 302 can be implemented as a modularcooking surface that includes two or more cooking surface components.For example, the first cooking grate 302 can include a first cookingsurface component (e.g., a left grate) and a second cooking surfacecomponent (e.g., a right grate) that, when placed side-by-side, form acontinuous cooking surface. In some such examples, the first cookinggrate 302 can further include a third (e.g., centrally located) cookingsurface that can be implemented as a circular grate, a wok, a pizzastone, etc.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 1-13, the outer wall 108 of the mainbody 102 is formed from an example first (e.g., lower) outer wallsegment 306 and an example second (e.g., upper) outer wall segment 308that is couplable to the first outer wall segment 306. In otherexamples, the first and second outer wall segments 306, 308 of the outerwall 108 of the main body 102 can be integrally formed as a singlecomponent. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 1-13, the first outerwall segment 306 and/or, more generally, the outer wall 108 of the mainbody 102 includes an example first opening 310 that is configured (e.g.,sized, shaped and/or positioned) to receive an example engine 312 of thepellet grill 100. The outer wall 108 and/or, more generally, the mainbody 102 of the pellet grill also includes and/or defines an examplesecond opening 1202 that is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/orpositioned) to be selectively covered or uncovered by an example lid 110of the pellet grill 100. FIG. 12 shows the lid 110 of the pellet grill100 in an example open position, thereby revealing the second opening1202 formed in the main body 102 of the pellet grill. Placement of thelid 110 in the open position shown in FIG. 12 enables a user to accessthe cooking chamber 1002 via the second opening 1202, as may be requiredto load, unload, and/or otherwise access food items that are cooked,cooking, and/or to be cooked within the cooking chamber 1002. Movementof the lid between a closed position (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4-11and 13) and an open position (e.g., as shown in FIG. 12) can befacilitated via an example handle 112 that is coupled to the lid 110.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7, 11 and 13, the lid 110 has a curved shapeand/or profile that complements and/or matches a curved portion of theoval and/or pill-shaped cross-sectional structure of the outer wall 108and/or the oval and/or pill-shaped profile of the first and second endcaps 104, 106. The shape of the lid 110 is configured to reduce (e.g.,minimize) heat lost through the second opening 1202 while the lid 110 isin a closed position. The main body 102 of the pellet grill 100 furtherincludes an example first liner 314 mounted within the cooking chamber1002 inwardly from and/or relative to the first end cap 104, and anexample second liner 316 mounted within the cooking chamber 1002inwardly from and/or relative to the second end cap 106. As shown inFIG. 3, the first liner 314 has a an oval and/or pill-shaped profilethat generally complements and/or matches the oval and/or pill-shapedprofile of the first end cap 104, and the second liner 316 has a an ovaland/or pill-shaped profile that generally complements and/or matches theoval and/or pill-shaped profile of the second end cap 106.

The lid 110 of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13 is rotatably coupledto the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100 via an example first hinge1204 located proximate the first liner 314 and via an example secondhinge 1206 located proximate the second liner 316. Each of the first andsecond hinges 1204, 1206 includes an example hinge arm 1208 that isrigidly coupled to the lid 110 and rotatably coupled to a correspondinghinge bracket. A first one of the hinge brackets (e.g., associated withthe first hinge 1204) is rigidly coupled to the outer wall 108 of themain body 102 of the pellet grill and is further rigidly coupled to anencircling wall of the first end cap 104 of the main body 102 of thepellet grill 100. A second one of the hinge brackets (e.g., associatedwith the second hinge 1206) is rigidly coupled to the outer wall 108 ofthe main body 102 of the pellet grill and is further rigidly coupled toan encircling wall of the second end cap 106 of the main body 102 of thepellet grill 100. Each of the hinge arms 1208 has a curved shape and/orprofile that complements and/or matches the curved shape and/or profileof the lid 110. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 1-13, the hinge arms1208 form a frame that provides support and/or structural stability forthe lid 110 of the pellet grill 100. The first and second hinges 1204,1206 of the pellet grill 100 are further described below in connectionwith FIGS. 74-81.

The pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13 further includes an example base 114configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to support the mainbody 102 of the pellet grill 100 at a height (e.g., approximately 18inches) above an underlying ground surface, and/or to support the firstcooking grate 302 of the pellet grill 100 at a height (e.g.,approximately 32 inches) above an underlying ground surface. The base114 includes an example first support 116 coupled to the first end cap104, and an example second support 118 coupled to the second end cap106. The first support 116 includes an example first (e.g., forwardlypositioned) leg 120 and an example second (e.g. rearwardly positioned)leg 202 that respectively extend away (e.g., downwardly) from the mainbody 102 of the pellet grill 100. The second support 118 similarlyincludes an example first (e.g., forwardly positioned) leg 122 and anexample second (e.g. rearwardly positioned) leg 124 that respectivelyextend away (e.g., downwardly) from the main body 102 of the pelletgrill 100. One or more of the leg(s) 120, 202, 122, 124 of the firstand/or second supports 116, 118 include one or more wheel(s) and/orcaster(s) to facilitate moving the pellet grill 100 from one location toanother. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 1-13, the base 114 furtherincludes an example cross member 126 extending between the first leg 120of the first support 116 and the first leg 122 of the second support118. In some examples, the cross member 126 provides lateral stabilityto the first and second supports 116, 118 and/or, more generally, to thebase 114 of the pellet grill 100.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 1-13, the pellet grill 100 furtherincludes an example side handle 128 mounted on and/or to the firstsupport 116 of the base 114, and an example side table 130 mounted onand/or to the second support 118 of the base 114. In other examples, theside handle 128 can alternatively be mounted on and/or to the secondsupport 118 of the base 114, and the side table 130 can alternatively bemounted on and/or to the first support 116 of the base 114. The sidehandle 128 facilitates moving the pellet grill 100 from one location toanother. The side table 130 provides an elevated support surface ontoand/or from which food items, food preparation items, cooking utensils,and/or other objects can be positioned, located and/or suspended.

The pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13 further includes an example hopper 132.The hopper 132 holds a volume of pellet fuel to be fed and/or supplied(e.g., via gravity) to an engine of the pellet grill 100. In theillustrated example of FIGS. 1-13, the hopper 132 is mounted on and/orto the rear of the pellet grill 100 and is generally oriented toward thesecond end cap 106 of the main body 102. The hopper 132 extendslaterally past the second end cap 106, thereby facilitating loadingand/or filling of the hopper 132 from a front and/or side area of thepellet grill 100 proximate the side table 130. In other examples, thehopper 132 can be mounted on and/or to the rear of the pellet grill 100,but alternatively be oriented toward and extend laterally past the firstend cap 104 of the main body 102. In still other examples, the hopper132 can alternatively be mounted on and/or to the left side or the rightside of the pellet grill 100. The hopper 132 of the pellet grill 100 isfurther described below in connection with FIGS. 14-21.

The pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13 further includes the engine 312. Theengine 312 extends through the first opening 310 formed in the outerwall 108 of the main body 102. A frame of the engine is coupled to theouter wall 108 and/or, more generally, to the main body 102 to rigidlysecure the engine 312 thereto. The engine 312 receives pellet fuel fromthe hopper 132 of the pellet grill 100. The engine 312 combusts thereceived pellet fuel to produce, generate, and/or output heat, whichthereafter is distributed throughout the cooking chamber 1002 of thepellet grill 100 to cook one or more food item(s) located therein. Theengine 312 of the pellet grill 100 is further described below inconnection with FIGS. 22-41.

The pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13 further includes an example heat diffuser318. The heat diffuser 318 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped, and/orpositioned relative to the engine 312) to receive heat emanating fromand/or output by a burn pot of the engine 312, and to distribute thereceived heat throughout the cooking chamber 1002 of the pellet grill100. The heat diffuser 318 is further configured to restrict and/orreduce the ability of any ash (e.g., as may be produce and/or generatedduring combustion and/or burning of the pellet fuel) that might escapeupwardly from the engine 312 (e.g., from the burn pot of the engine 312)from entering the cooking chamber 1002 of the pellet grill 100. The heatdiffuser 318 of the pellet grill 100 is further described below inconnection with FIGS. 42-53.

The pellet grill of FIGS. 1-13 further includes an example greasedeflection bar (e.g., a FLAVORIZER® bar) assembly 320. The greasedeflection bar assembly 320 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped, and/orpositioned relative to the engine 312 and/or relative to the heatdiffuser 318) to direct grease (e.g., as may be received at the greasedeflection bar assembly 320 from food being cooked on the first and/orsecond cooking grates 302, 304 of the pellet grill 100) toward one ormore example grease channel(s) 902 formed (e.g., stamped) in the bottomof the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100. The grease deflection barassembly 320 is further configured to restrict and/or reduce the abilityof grease from contacting and/or entering the heat diffuser 318 and/orthe engine 312. The components of the grease deflection bar assembly 320can be removed from the pellet grill 100 without requiring removal ofany mechanical fasteners, thereby improving the ease with which thecomponents of the grease deflection bar assembly 320 can be cleanedand/or replaced, and/or improving the ease with which a user can accessportions of the cooking chamber 1002 of the pellet grill 100 that wouldotherwise be obstructed by the components of the grease deflection barassembly 320. The grease deflection bar assembly 320 of the pellet grill100 is further described below in connection with FIGS. 54-62.

The pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13 further includes an example wastecollection drawer 134 that is positioned and or located below the mainbody 102 of the pellet grill 100 between the first and second supports116, 118 of the base 114 (e.g., between the legs 120, 202 of the firstsupport 116 and the legs 122, 124 of the second support 118). FIG. 13shows the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13 with the waste collectiondrawer 134 in an example open position. Placement of the wastecollection drawer 134 in the open position shown in FIG. 13 enables auser to access an ash collection bin and/or one or more greasecollection bin(s) stored within the waste collection drawer 134, and toremove and/or dispose of the contents (e.g., collected ash and/orcollected grease) thereof. Movement of the waste collection drawer 134between a closed position (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4-12) andan open position (e.g., as shown in FIG. 13) can be facilitated via anexample tab 136 that is formed in and/or along the front of the wastecollection drawer 134. The waste collection drawer 134 of the pelletgrill 100 is further described below in connection with FIGS. 63-71.

The pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13 further includes an example userinterface 138. The user interface 138 includes one or more inputdevice(s) (e.g., buttons, switches, knobs, touchscreens, etc.) and/orone or more output device(s) (e.g., liquid crystal displays, lightemitting diodes, speakers, etc.) that enable a user of the pellet grill100 to interact with a control system of the pellet grill 100. In theillustrated example of FIGS. 1-13, the user interface 138 is mounted onand/or to the front of the hopper 132. In other examples, the userinterface 138 can be mounted on and/or to a different surface of thehopper 132. In still other examples, the user interface 138 can bemounted on and/or to a different component of the pellet grill 100, suchas the side table 130 of the pellet grill 100. The user interface 138 ofthe pellet grill 100 is further described below in connection with FIG.82.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the hopper 132 of the pellet grill 100of FIGS. 1-13. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the hopper 132 of FIG.14 with a lid of the hopper 132 in an example open position. FIG. 16 isa front view of the hopper 132 of FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 17 is a rearview of the hopper 132 of FIGS. 14-16. FIG. 18 is a first (e.g., left)side view of the hopper 132 of FIGS. 14-17. FIG. 19 is a second (e.g.,right) side view of the hopper 132 of FIGS. 14-18. FIG. 20 is a top viewof the hopper 132 of FIGS. 14-19. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view ofthe hopper 132 of FIGS. 14-20 taken along section C-C of FIG. 20.

The hopper 132 of FIGS. 14-21 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/orarranged) to hold a volume of pellet fuel to be fed and/or supplied(e.g., via gravity) to the engine 312 of the pellet grill 100. In theillustrated example of FIGS. 14-21, the hopper 132 includes an examplefront wall 1402, an example rear wall 1502 located opposite the frontwall 1402, and example first (e.g., left) sidewall 1504 extendingbetween the front wall 1402 and the rear wall 1502, and an examplesecond (e.g., right) sidewall 1404 located opposite the first sidewall1504 and extending between the front wall 1402 and the rear wall 1502.The front wall 1402, rear wall 1502, first sidewall 1504 and secondsidewall 1404 define an example cavity 1506 of the hopper 132 that isfurther separated by an example interior wall 2102 of the hopper 132into an example first volume 1508 for storing and/or containing pelletfuel, and an example second volume 2104 for storing and/or containing anexample electronic component (e.g., a control board) 2106 of the controlsystem of the pellet grill 100. The interior wall 2102 extends betweenthe front wall 1402 and the rear wall 1502 of the hopper 132 and isconfigured to funnel and/or direct pellet fuel toward an example lowerportion 2108 of the first volume 1508 of the cavity 1506 proximate thefirst sidewall 1504 of the hopper 132.

The first volume 1508 of the cavity 1506 includes a fuel intake opening1510 defined by the upper edges of the front wall 1402, rear wall 1502,first sidewall 1504 and second sidewall 1404 of the hopper 132. Thehopper 132 includes an example lid 1406 that is moveable between aclosed position (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 14 and 16-21) and an openposition (e.g., as shown in FIG. 15). Pellet fuel can be added to thefirst volume 1508 of the cavity 1506 of the hopper 132 via the fuelintake opening 1510 when the lid 1406 is in the open position. When thelid 1406 is in the closed position, pellet fuel stored within the firstvolume 1508 of the cavity 1506 of the hopper 132 is protected fromelements of nature (e.g., rain, snow, etc.), and the first volume 1508of the cavity 1506 of the hopper 132 is protected from accidentallyreceiving foreign matter and/or foreign objects.

The hopper 132 of FIGS. 14-21 further includes an example feed duct 1602formed at and/or coupled to the interior wall 2102 of the hopper 132proximate the lower portion 2108 of the first volume 1508 of the cavity1506 of the hopper 132. The feed duct 1602 extends downwardly from theinterior wall 2102. The feed duct 1602 has an open top and an openbottom that collectively facilitate feeding, supplying and/ortransferring pellet fuel from the lower portion 2108 of the first volume1508 of the cavity 1506 of the hopper 132 to an auger assembly of theengine 312 of the pellet grill 100.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 14-21, the hopper 132 is configuredto be mounted and/or coupled to a rear portion of the outer wall 108 ofthe main body 102 of the pellet grill 100, and/or to the engine 312 ofthe pellet grill 100. The front wall 1402 of the hopper 132 includes anexample opening 1408 that is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/orpositioned) to receive a portion of an auger assembly of the engine 312of the pellet grill 100 when the hopper 132 is coupled and/or mounted toa housing of the engine 312 and/or to the main body 102 of the pelletgrill 100.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 14-21, the rear wall 1502 of thehopper 132 includes an example access door 1604 that covers an exampleopening 1606 formed in the rear wall 1502 of the hopper 132 andgenerally aligned with the opening 1408 formed in the front wall 1402 ofthe hopper 132. The access door 1604 can be opened and/or removed fromthe hopper 132 to enable access to the auger assembly via the opening1606 of the rear wall 1502 without requiring removal of the hopper 132from the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100. In some examples, whenthe access door 1604 is opened and/or removed from the hopper 132, oneor more components of the auger assembly (e.g., an auger motor, an augerduct, and/or an auger) can advantageously be accessed and/or removedfrom the pellet grill 100 via the opening 1606 of the rear wall 1502 ofthe hopper 132 while the hopper 132 remains mounted to the main body 102of the pellet grill 100.

FIG. 22 is a first perspective view of the engine 312 of the pelletgrill 100 of FIGS. 1-13. FIG. 23 is a second perspective view of theengine 312 of FIG. 22. FIGS. 24A and 24B are exploded views of theengine 312 of FIGS. 22 and 23. FIG. 25 is a first (e.g., left) side viewof the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-24. FIG. 26 is a second (e.g., right) sideview of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-25. FIG. 27 is a front view of theengine 312 of FIGS. 22-26. FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of theengine 312 of FIGS. 22-27 taken along section D-D of FIG. 27. FIG. 29 isa top view of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-28. FIG. 30 is across-sectional view of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-29 taken alongsection E-E of FIG. 29.

The engine 312 of FIGS. 22-30 includes an example frame 2202, an examplefirst housing 2204, an example second housing 2206, an example fuelslide 2208, an example auger duct 2210, an example auger 2212, anexample auger motor 2214, an example burn pot 2216, an example fuelgrate 2402, an example ash slide 2404, an example ignitor 2406, anexample ignitor carrier 2408, and an example fan 2410. In theillustrated example of FIGS. 22-30, the frame 2202 of the engine 312 hasa curved shape that complements and/or matches the curved shape of theouter wall 108 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100 proximatethe first opening 310 of the outer wall 108. The frame 2202 includes aplurality of example nuts 2218 that are configured (e.g., sized, shapedand/or arranged) to align with corresponding ones of the through-holesformed in the outer wall 108 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill100 to facilitate coupling (e.g., via fasteners) the frame 2202 to theouter wall 108 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100 such thatportions of the engine 312 extend through the first opening 310 of theouter wall 108 of the main body 102. For example, when the frame 2202 ofFIGS. 22-30 is coupled to the outer wall 108 of the main body 102 of thepellet grill 100 (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11), portions of thefirst housing 2204, the fuel slide 2208, the auger duct 2210, the auger2212, the burn pot 2216, the fuel grate 2402, the ignitor 2406, and theignitor carrier 2408 extend inwardly through the first opening 310 ofthe outer wall 108 and are located within the main body 102 (e.g.,within the cooking chamber 1002) of the pellet grill 100. When the frame2202 of FIGS. 22-30 is coupled to the outer wall 108 of the main body102 of the pellet grill 100 (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11), a lowerportion of the frame 2202 partially covers the grease channels 902formed in the outer wall 108 of the main body 102. Partially coveringthe grease channels 902 with the lower portion of the frame 2202advantageously prevents any flame(s) present within the cooking chamber1002 and/or the main body 102 from extending outside of the cookingchamber 1002 and/or the main body 102.

The first housing 2204 of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-30 extends throughand is partially supported by the frame 2202 of the engine 312. In theillustrated example of FIGS. 22-30, the first housing 2204 is arectangular box-shaped structure that includes and/or is defined by anexample front wall 2412, an example rear wall 2414 located opposite thefront wall 2412, an example first (e.g., left) sidewall 2416 extendingbetween the front wall 2412 and the rear wall 2414, an example second(e.g., right) sidewall 2418 extending between the front wall 2412 andthe rear wall 2414 and located opposite the first sidewall 2416, and anexample bottom wall 2420 extending between the front wall 2412 and therear wall 2414 and further extending between the first sidewall 2416 andthe second sidewall 2418. The first sidewall 2416 and the secondsidewall 2418 of the first housing 2204 respectively include an exampleinwardly-extending flange 2422 that, together with an example coverplate 2424, defines an example top surface 2426 of the first housing2204.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-30, the front wall 2412, thefirst sidewall 2416 and the second sidewall 2418 of the first housing2204 are closed walls. The first housing 2204 further includes anexample first opening 2428, an example second opening 2802, an examplethird opening 2804, and an example fourth opening 2806. The firstopening 2428 of the first housing 2204 is located at the top surface2426 of the first housing 2204 and is defined by the flanges 2422. Thesecond opening 2802 of the first housing 2204 is located at and/orformed in the rear wall 2414 of the first housing 2204 proximate thebottom wall 2420 of the first housing 2204. The third opening 2804 ofthe first housing 2204 is located at and/or formed in the bottom wall2420 of the first housing 2204 proximate the front wall 2412 of thefirst housing 2204. The fourth opening 2806 of the first housing 2204 islocated at and/or formed in the bottom wall 2420 of the first housing2204 proximate the rear wall 2414 of the first housing 2204.

As shown in FIGS. 11, 28 and 30, the first housing 2204 of the engine312 houses, contains and/or carries the burn pot 2216, the fuel grate2402, the ignitor 2406, and the ignitor carrier 2408 of the engine 312.The burn pot 2216 (which includes the fuel grate 2402) is receivedwithin the first housing 2204 via the first opening 242428 of the firsthousing 2204, and is positioned and/or located over and/or in verticalalignment with the third opening 2804 of the first housing 2204. Asshown in FIGS. 11, 28 and 30 and further described below, the verticalalignment of the burn pot 2216 and the fuel grate 2402 over the thirdopening 2804 of the first housing 2204 advantageously enables ash (e.g.,as may be produced and/or generated during combustion and/or burning ofpellet fuel contained within the burn pot 2216) to pass and/or fallthrough the fuel grate 2402 and through the third opening 2804 of thefirst housing 2204 onto the ash slide 2404, and from the ash slide 2404into an ash collection bin of the waste collection drawer 134 that islocated below the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100. The ash slide2404 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to guide ashdownwardly (e.g., away from the burn pot 2216, and to prevent a cycloneflow of ash from migrating upwardly toward the burn pot 2216. In someexamples, the ash slide 2404 preferably has a length ranging between 2.0inches and 10.0 inches, and is preferably angled downward from the firsthousing 2204 at an angle of 5.0 degrees or greater. When the burn pot2216 has been placed within the first housing 2204, an example upperplate 2220 of the burn pot 2216 covers and/or closes a portion of thefirst opening 2428 of the first housing 2204 forward of the cover plate2424. The fuel slide 2208 of the engine 312 is mounted and/or coupled tothe first housing 2204 at the top surface 2426 and/or on the flanges2422 of the first housing 2204.

As further shown in FIGS. 11 and 28, the ignitor 2406 and the ignitorcarrier 2408 of the engine 312 are slidingly received within the firsthousing 2204 via the second opening 2802 of the first housing 2204. Whenthe ignitor 2406 and the ignitor carrier 2408 have been placed withinthe first housing 2204, an example rear tab 2430 of the ignitor carrier2408 covers and/or closes the second opening 2802 of the first housing2204. The fan 2410 of the engine 312 is mounted and/or coupled to thefirst housing 2204 at the bottom wall 2420 of the first housing 2204 andis positioned and/or located below and/or in vertical alignment with thefourth opening 2806 of the first housing 2204. The vertical alignment ofthe fan 2410 below the fourth opening 2806 of the first housing 2204enables an airflow produced, generated and/or output by the fan 2410 topass through the fourth opening 2806 into the first housing 2204. Oncethe airflow has passed from the fan 2410 into the first housing 2204,the airflow is subsequently directed toward and/or into the burn pot2216, as further described below.

The second housing 2206 of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-30 extendsrearwardly from the frame 2202 of the engine 312 such that the secondhousing 2206 is located and/or positioned outside of the main body 102of the pellet grill 100 when the frame 2202 is coupled to the main body102. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-30, the second housing 2206includes and/or is defined by an example bottom wall 2432, an examplefirst (e.g., left) sidewall 2434 extending upwardly from the bottom wall2432, an example second (e.g., right) sidewall 2436 extending upwardlyfrom the bottom wall 2432 and located opposite the first sidewall 2434,and an example rear wall 2438 extending upwardly from the bottom wall2432 and further extending between the first sidewall 2434 and thesecond sidewall 2436.

The bottom wall 2432, the first sidewall 2434, the second sidewall 2436,and the rear wall 2438 of the second housing 2206 are respectivelyconfigured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to facilitate couplingthe above-described hopper 132 of the pellet grill 100 to the secondhousing 2206 and/or, more generally, to the engine 312 of the pelletgrill 100. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-30, the first sidewall2434 and the rear wall 2438 of the second housing 2206 includethrough-holes that are configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged)to align with corresponding ones of through-holes formed in the rearwall 1502 and the first sidewall 1504 of the hopper 132 to facilitatecoupling (e.g., via fasteners) the hopper 132 to the second housing 2206and/or, more generally, to the engine 312 of the pellet grill 100.

The second housing 2206 of FIGS. 22-30 further includes an exampleopening 2302 formed in the bottom wall 2432 of the second housing 2206.As shown in FIGS. 23 and 28, the opening 2302 formed in the bottom wall2432 of the second housing 2206 is vertically aligned with the fan 2410of the engine 312, with the fan 2410 be located and/or positionedbetween the first housing 2204 and the second housing 2206 of the engine312. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-30, an example grate 2304 iscoupled to and/or integrally formed across the opening 2302 of thebottom wall 2432 of the second housing 2206. The grate 2304 isconfigured (e.g., sized and/or shaped) to allow air to pass through theopening 2302 of the bottom wall 2432 of the second housing 2206 and intothe fan 2410, while also advantageously preventing solid foreign objectsfrom inadvertently being drawn through the opening 2302 of the bottomwall 2432 of the second housing 2206 and into the fan 2410.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-30, the fuel slide 2208 includesan example first (e.g., left) sidewall 2440 having an example firstupper edge 2442 and an example first lower edge 2444, and an examplesecond (e.g., right) sidewall 2446 located opposite the first sidewall2440 and having an example second upper edge 2448 and an example secondlower edge 2450. Each of the first and second sidewalls 2440, 2446 ofthe fuel slide 2208 includes an example outwardly-extending flange 2452(e.g., extending from corresponding ones of the first and second loweredges 2444, 2450) that is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/orarranged) to align and/or mate with the flanges 2422 of the firsthousing 2204 to facilitate mounting and/or coupling the fuel slide 2208of the engine 312 to the first housing 2204 of the engine 312.

The fuel slide 2208 of FIGS. 22-30 further includes an example panel2454 having an example front end 2456 and an example rear end 2458. Thepanel 2454 extends between the first and second sidewalls 2440, 2446 ofthe fuel slide 2208. The rear end 2458 of the panel 2454 has a curvedshape that is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) toreceive and/or support the auger duct 2210 of the engine 312. In theillustrated example of FIGS. 22-30, the panel 2454 of the fuel slide2208 is oriented and/or angled at a rear-to-front decline (e.g., therear end 2458 of the panel 2454 is higher than the front end 2456 of thepanel 2454). The panel 2454 is configured to receive pellet fuel exitingthe auger duct 2210 of the engine 312, and to feed and/or direct thereceived pellet fuel downwardly and/or forwardly from the rear (e.g.,upper) end 2458 of the panel 2454 to the front (e.g., lower) end 2456 ofthe panel 2454, and subsequently into the burn pot 2216 of the engine312.

The auger duct 2210 of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-30 extends through andis partially supported by an example opening 2460 formed in the frame2202 of the engine 312. The auger duct also extends past and ispartially supported by the rear (e.g., upper) end 2458 of the panel 2454of the fuel slide 2208. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-30, theauger duct 2210 is a cylindrical shaped structure that is configured(e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to house and/or contain the auger2212 of the engine 312, along with pellet fuel to be fed and/or suppliedby the auger 2212 from the feed duct 1602 of the hopper 132 of thepellet grill 100 to the panel 2454 of the fuel slide 2208 of the engine312. The auger duct 2210 of FIGS. 22-30 includes and/or is defined by anexample front end 2462, an example rear end 2464 located opposite thefront end 2462, and an example sidewall 2466 extending between the frontend 2462 and the rear end 2464. In the illustrated example of FIGS.22-30, the auger duct 2210 is oriented and/or angled at a rear-to-frontincline (e.g., the rear end 2464 of the auger duct 2210 is lower thanthe front end 2462 of the auger duct 2210). The auger duct 2210 iscoupled to and/or integrally formed with an example duct base 2468. Theduct base 2468 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) tofacilitate coupling the auger duct 2210 to the auger 2212 and/or to theauger motor 2214 of the engine 312.

The auger duct 2210 of FIGS. 22-30 further includes an example firstopening 2470 formed in the front end 2462 of the auger duct 2210, anexample second opening 2808 formed in the rear end 2464 of the augerduct 2210, and an example third opening 2810 formed in an upper portionof the sidewall 2466 of the auger duct 2210. The first and secondopenings 2470, 2808 of the auger duct 2210 are respectively configured(e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to enable the auger duct 2210 tobe slidingly positioned around and/or over (e.g., over the length of)the auger 2212 such that the auger 2212 is housed and/or containedwithin the auger duct 2210. The third opening 2810 of the auger duct2210 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to receivepellet fuel from the feed duct 1602 of the hopper 132 of the pelletgrill 100.

The auger 2212 of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-30 extends through theauger duct 2210 of the engine 312. The auger 2212 is configured (e.g.,sized, shaped and/or arranged) to move pellet fuel received within theauger duct 2210 either towards (e.g., during a cooking operation) oraway from (e.g., in response to a jam of the auger 2212, and/or duringan end-of-cook purge of the pellet fuel) the front end 2462 of the augerduct 2210 and/or the panel 2454 of the fuel slide 2208 of the engine312. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-30, the auger 2212 includesan example front end 2812 oriented toward the front end 2462 of theauger duct 2210, an example rear end 2814 located opposite the front end2812 of the auger 2212 and oriented toward the rear end 2464 of theauger duct 2210, and an example spiral shaped coil and/or fighting 2816that extends between the front end 2812 and the rear end 2814 of theauger 2212. The fighting 2816 of the auger 2212 of FIGS. 22-30 is anon-variable pitch (e.g., a constant pitch) fighting. In other examples,the fighting 2816 of the auger 2212 can be a variable pitch fightinghaving an increasing rear-to-front pitch (e.g., the fighting spacingincreases moving from the rear end 2814 of the auger 2212 to the frontend 2812 of the auger 2212). Movement of the auger 2212 (e.g., thedirection of rotation, rate of rotation, and/or duty cycle of the auger2212) can be controlled via the auger motor 2214 of the engine 312.

The auger motor 2214 of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-30 is coupled to theauger 2212 and to the duct base 2468. The auger motor 2214 includes anexample shaft 2818 that operatively couples the auger motor 2214 to thefighting 2816 of the auger 2212 to provide for motor-driven rotationthereof. The auger motor 2214 controls the movement (e.g., the directionof rotation, rate of rotation, and/or duty cycle) of the auger 2212. Inthe illustrated example of FIGS. 22-30, the auger motor 2214 is acontrollable, DC-powered, variable-speed electric motor that operates inresponse to data, commands and/or signals received from a control system(e.g., the control system 8200 of FIG. 82 described below) of the pelletgrill 100.

In some examples, the auger motor 2214 of FIG. 22-30 causes the auger2212 to rotate in a first (e.g., clockwise) direction to move pelletfuel contained in the auger duct 2210 away from the rear end 2464 of theauger duct 2210 and/or toward the front end 2462 of the auger duct 2210,and/or toward the panel 2454 of the fuel slide 2208 of the engine 312.The auger motor 2214 of FIGS. 22-30 can also cause the auger 2212 torotate in a second (e.g., counterclockwise) direction to move pelletfuel contained in the auger duct 2210 away from the front end 2462 ofthe auger duct 2210 and/or toward the rear end 2464 of the auger duct2210, and/or away from the panel 2454 of the fuel slide 2208 of theengine 312. Thus, the auger 2212 of the engine 312 is a reversibleauger, the direction of rotation of which is controlled via the augermotor 2214 of the engine 312. The auger motor 2214, auger 2212, andauger duct 2210 of FIGS. 22-30 form an auger assembly that is removable(e.g., rearwardly) from the engine 312 (e.g., via removal and/or openingof the access door 1604 covering the opening 1606 of the rear wall 1502of the hopper 132).

The burn pot 2216 and the fuel grate 2402 of the engine 312 of FIGS.22-30 are further illustrated in FIGS. 31-41. FIG. 31 is a firstperspective view of the burn pot 2216 of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-30.FIG. 32 is a second perspective view of the burn pot 2216 of FIG. 31.FIG. 33 is an exploded view of the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 31 and 32.FIG. 34 is a rear view of the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 31-33. FIG. 35 is aside view of the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 31-34. FIG. 36 is a top view ofthe burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 31-35. FIG. 37 is a bottom view of the burnpot 2216 of FIGS. 31-36. FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of the burnpot 2216 of FIGS. 31-37 taken along section F-F of FIG. 34. FIG. 39 is across-sectional view of the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 31-38 taken alongsection G-G of FIG. 36. FIG. 40 is a perspective view of the fuel grate2402 of the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 31-39. FIG. 41 is a side view of thefuel grate 2402 of FIG. 40.

The burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 22-39 is configured to contain pellet fuelthat is to be combusted, is being combusted, and/or is burning withinthe burn pot 2216. The burn pot 2216 is further configured to directheat produced, generated, and/or output as a byproduct of the pelletfuel combustion and/or burning upwardly toward the heat diffuser 318 ofthe pellet grill 100, and to direct ash produced and/or generated as abyproduct of the pellet fuel combustion and/or burning downwardly towardthe ash slide 2404 and/or the waste collection drawer 134 of the pelletgrill 100. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-39, the burn pot 2216includes an example upper end 3102 defined by the upper plate 2220 ofthe burn pot 2216, an example lower end 3104 located opposite the upperend 3102 of the burn pot 2216, and an example sidewall 3106 extendingbetween the upper end 3102 and the lower end 3104 of the burn pot 2216.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-39, the burn pot 2216 furtherincludes an example first opening 3108 formed along and/or at the upperend 3102 of the burn pot 2216 and having an associated first geometricarea. The first opening 3108 of the burn pot 2216 is configured (e.g.,sized, shaped and/or arranged) to receive pellet fuel from the panel2454 of the fuel slide 2208 of the engine 312, and to emit and/or outputheat produced and/or generated as a byproduct of the pellet fuelcombustion and/or burning upwardly toward the heat diffuser 318 of thepellet grill 100. The burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 22-39 further includes anexample second opening 3202 formed along and/or at the lower end 3104 ofthe burn pot 2216 and having an associated second geometric area that isgreater than the first geometric area of the first opening 3108 of theburn pot. The second opening 3202 of the burn pot 2216 is configured(e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to release ash produced and/orgenerated as a byproduct of the pellet fuel combustion and/or burningdownwardly from the burn pot 2216, through the third opening 2804 of thefirst housing 2204 of the engine 312, and toward the ash slide 2404and/or the waste collection drawer 134 of the pellet grill 100. Anexample central axis 3402 of the burn pot 2216 intersects the respectivegeometric centers of the first and second openings 3108, 3202 of theburn pot 2216. The fuel grate 2402 is position and/or located within theburn pot 2216 between the first opening 3108 and the second opening 3202of the burn pot 2216. The fuel grate 2402 includes one or more flange(s)configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to couple the fuelgrate 2402 to the sidewall 3106 of the burn pot 2216, and/or to supportthe fuel grate 2402 on the bottom wall 2420 of the first housing 2204 ofthe engine 312.

The burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 22-39 further includes an example thirdopening 3204 and example through-holes 3110 respectively formed in thesidewall 3106 of the burn pot 2216. The third opening 3204 of the burnpot 2216 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) toslidingly receive the ignitor 2406 of the engine 312 such that a tip ofthe ignitor 2406 is positioned and/or located within the burn pot 2216proximate the lower end 3104 of the burn pot 2216. The through-holes3110 of the burn pot 2216 are configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/orarranged) about the sidewall 3106 of the burn pot 2216 to enable anairflow produced, generated, and/or output by the fan 2410 of the engine312 to be received within the burn pot 2216. Movement of the airflowinto the burn pot 2216 via the through-holes 3110 assists in controllingthe combustion and/or burning of the pellet fuel within the burn pot2216, and/or assists in controlling the movement of heat produced,generated, and/or output as a byproduct of the pellet fuel combustionand/or burning from the burn pot 2216 toward the heat diffuser 318 ofthe pellet grill 100, and/or throughout the cooking chamber 1002 of thepellet grill 100.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-39, the sidewall 3106 tapersinwardly (e.g., toward the central axis 3402 of the burn pot 2216) asthe sidewall 3106 extends from the lower end 3104 of the burn pot 2216toward the upper end 3102 of the burn pot 2216. The inward taper of thesidewall 3106 centralizes and/or concentrates the heat that is produced,generated, and/or output as a byproduct of the pellet fuel combustionand/or burning toward the central axis 3402 of the burn pot 2216 and/ortoward the geometric center of the first opening 3108 of the burn pot2216, thereby advantageously enabling the production, generation, and/oroutput of higher cooking temperatures over the burn pot 2216. The inwardtaper of the sidewall 3106 also advantageously restricts and/or reducesthe ability of ash produced and/or generated as a byproduct of thepellet fuel combustion and/or burning from escaping upwardly from theburn pot 2216 and/or entering the cooking chamber 1002 of the pelletgrill 100.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-39, the first and second openings3108, 3202 of the burn pot 2216 have circular shapes, and the burn pot2216 accordingly has a conical shape defined by the first and secondopenings 3108, 3202 and the inwardly-tapered sidewall 3106 of the burnpot 2216. In other examples, the first and second openings 3108, 3202 ofthe burn pot 2216 can have respective shapes that differ from thoseshown in FIGS. 22-39, and accordingly result in a different geometricshape (e.g., a regular or irregular three-dimensional shape) of the burnpot 2216. For example, the first and second openings 3108, 3202 of theburn pot 2216 can alternatively have rectangular shapes, and the burnpot 2216 can accordingly have a shape simulating that of a rectangularpyramid (e.g., with a diminishing size and/or cross-sectional areamoving from the lower end 3104 toward the upper end 3102 of the burn pot2216). As another example, the first and second openings 3108, 3202 ofthe burn pot 2216 can alternatively have triangular shapes, and the burnpot 2216 can accordingly have a shape simulating that of a triangularpyramid (e.g., with a diminishing size and/or cross-sectional areamoving from the lower end 3104 toward the upper end 3102 of the burn pot2216).

In still other examples, the first and second openings 3108, 3202 of theburn pot 2216 can alternatively be of a uniform size and shape, with thesidewall 3106 of the burn pot 2216 extending vertically (e.g., withoutan inward taper) from the lower end 3104 of the burn pot 2216 to theupper end 3102 of the burn pot 2216. For example, the burn pot 2216 canalternatively be implemented to have a cylindrical shape (e.g., in thecase or uniformly-sized and shaped circular first and second openings3108, 3202), or a cuboidal shape (e.g., in the case or uniformly-sizedand shaped rectangular first and second openings 3108, 3202).

The fuel grate 2402 of the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 22-41 is configured tosupport and/or maintain pellet fuel that is to be combusted, is beingcombusting, and/or is burning within the burn pot 2216. The fuel grate2402 is further configured to release ash produced and/or generated as abyproduct of the pellet fuel combustion and/or burning downwardly towardthe lower end 3104 and/or the second opening 3202 of the burn pot 2216,and/or toward the ash slide 2404 and/or the waste collection drawer 134of the pellet grill 100. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-41, thefuel grate 2402 includes an example upper surface 4002, an exampletrough 4004 extending downwardly from and/or below the upper surface4002, first example flanges 4006 extending downwardly from and/or belowthe upper surface 4002, second example flanges 4008 extending downwardlyfrom and/or below the bottom of the trough 4004, and example openings4010 (e.g., slots and/or holes) formed along the upper surface 4002 andthe trough 4004 of the fuel grate 2402.

The upper surface 4002 of the fuel grate 2402 of FIGS. 22-41 defines acircular and/or disc-like shape of the fuel grate 2402 that isconfigured (e.g., sized and/or shaped) to fill the cross-sectional areadefined by the sidewall 3106 of the burn pot 2216 at the location alongthe sidewall 3106 at which the fuel grate 2402 is to be positionedand/or located. The fuel grate 2402 is position and/or located withinthe burn pot 2216 between the first opening 3108 and the second opening3202 of the burn pot 2216. The first flanges 4006 of the fuel grate 2402are configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to couple the fuelgrate 2402 to the sidewall 3106 of the burn pot 2216, and/or to supportthe fuel grate 2402 on the bottom wall 2420 of the first housing 2204 ofthe engine 312. The second flanges 4008 of the fuel grate 2402 areconfigured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to align with and/orextend through corresponding slots and/or openings formed in the bottomwall 2420 of the first housing 2204 of the engine 312 to properly orientand/or locate the trough 4004 and/or, more generally, the fuel grate2402 within the first housing 2204 and/or within the burn pot 2216. Theopenings 4010 formed in the upper surface 4002 and the trough 4004 ofthe fuel grate 2402 can be configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/orarranged) in any manner that facilitates the passage of ash (e.g., ashproduce and/or generated as a byproduct of pellet fuel combustion and/orburning) downwardly through the openings 4010 to a location below thefuel grate 2402.

The trough 4004 of the fuel grate 2402 of FIGS. 22-41 is configured tofunnel, direct and/or collect pellet fuel that has been deposited intothe burn pot 2216 toward and/or within a centralized position and/orlocation of the fuel grate 2402 (e.g., towards the central axis 3402).In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-41, the trough 4004 of the fuelgrate 2402 extends across the fuel grate 2402 and has an orientationthat is perpendicular to the orientation of a shaft of the ignitor 2406of the engine 312. In other examples, the trough 4004 of the fuel grate2402 can alternatively have an orientation that differs from theorientation of the trough 4004 shown in FIGS. 22-41. For example, thetrough 4004 of the fuel grate 2402 can alternatively have an orientationthat is parallel to the orientation of the shaft of the ignitor 2406 ofthe engine 312.

In some examples, the trough 4004 and/or, more generally, the fuel grate2402 of the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 22-41 is oriented such that a portion(e.g., a tip) of the ignitor 2406 of the engine 312 is positioned and/orlocated within the trough 4004. In such examples, the trough 4004 of thefuel grate 2402 advantageously directs and/or collects pellet fueltoward and/or within a centralized position and/or location of the fuelgrate 2402 (e.g., toward the central axis 3402), thereby causing thecollected pellet fuel to be placed adjacent to and/or in contact withthe ignitor 2406. Centralizing and/or localizing pellet fuel within thetrough 4004 as described above is advantageous for startup and/orinitiating combustion of the pellet fuel. Centralizing and/or localizingpellet fuel within the trough 4004 as described above is alsoadvantageous for low-temperature cooking operations (e.g., smoking) inwhich the burn pot 2216 of the engine 312 will contain a relatively lowvolume of pellet fuel.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-41, the trough 4004 of the fuelgrate 2402 is generally v-shaped. In other examples, the trough 4004 canhave an alternative shape that differs from the shape shown in FIGS.22-41. For example, the trough 4004 of the fuel grate 2402 canalternatively have a rectangular shape or a curved (e.g., concaveupward) shape. The trough 4004 of FIGS. 22-41 can be configured to haveany shape that funnels, directs and/or collects pellet fuel which hasbeen deposited into the burn pot 2216 toward and/or within a centralizedposition and/or location of the fuel grate 2402 of the burn pot 2216.

The ignitor 2406 of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-39 includes an examplefront end 2472, an example rear end 2474 located opposite the front end2472 of the ignitor 2406, and an example shaft 2476 extending from thefront end 2472 toward the rear end 2474 of the ignitor 2406. In theillustrated example of FIGS. 22-39, the front end 2472 of the ignitor2406 extends though one of the openings 4010 formed in the trough 4004such that the front end 2472 of the ignitor 2406 is positioned and/orlocated within the trough 4004 of the fuel grate 2402 and/or, moregenerally, within the burn pot 2216 of the engine 312. The rear end 2474of the ignitor 2406 is positioned and/or located within, and/or issupported by, the ignitor carrier 2408. A middle portion of the shaft2476 of the ignitor 2406 extends thought the third opening 3204 of thesidewall 3106 of the burn pot 2216. A rearward portion of the shaft 2476is supported by and/or removably coupled to the ignitor carrier 2408.The ignitor 2406 can be activated and/or fired to produce, generateand/or output heat that causes pellet fuel positioned and/or locatedwithin the burn pot 2216 (e.g., positioned and/or located on the fuelgrate 2402 of the burn pot 2216) to ignite and/or commence combustion.In the illustrated example of FIGS. 22-39, the ignitor 2406 is acontrollable, DC-powered glow plug that operates in response to data,commands and/or signals received from a control system (e.g., thecontrol system 8200 of FIG. 82 described below) of the pellet grill 100.

The ignitor carrier 2408 of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-30 includes anexample front end 2478, an example rear end 2480 located opposite thefront end 2478 of the ignitor carrier 2408, and example arms 2482extending between the front end 2478 and the rear end 2480 of theignitor carrier 2408. The front end 2478 of the ignitor carrier 2408includes an example opening 2820 that is configured (e.g., sized, shapedand/or arranged) to receive the rear end 2474 and/or the rearwardportion of the shaft 2476 of the ignitor 2406. The ignitor 2406 issupported and/or carried by the ignitor carrier 2408, and is removablycouplable to the ignitor carrier 2408 via the opening 2820 formed in thefront end 2478 of the ignitor carrier 2408. The rear end 2480 of theignitor carrier 2408 forms the rear tab 2430 of the ignitor carrier 2408which, as described above, is accessible to a user of the pellet grill100 from the rear side of the first housing 2204 of the engine 312 ofFIGS. 22-30 (e.g., via removal and/or opening of the access door 1604covering the opening 1606 of the rear wall 1502 of the hopper 132).

The ignitor carrier 2408 and the ignitor 2406 of FIGS. 22-30 can beremoved (e.g., to facilitate replacement of the ignitor 2406) from thefirst housing 2204 of the engine 312 and/or, more generally, from thepellet grill 100 via the rear tab 2430 of the ignitor carrier 2408. Forexample, pulling the ignitor carrier 2408 rearwardly via the rear tab2430 of the ignitor carrier 2408 causes the ignitor 2406 to be removedfrom the trough 4004 of the fuel grate 2402 (e.g., through one of theopenings 4010 formed in the trough 4004), removed from the burn pot 2216of the engine 312 (e.g., through the third opening 3204 formed in thesidewall 3106 of the burn pot 2216), and removed from the first housing2204 of the engine 312 (e.g., through the second opening 2802 formed inthe rear wall 2414 of the first housing 2204). Once the ignitor carrier2408 and the ignitor 2406 have been removed from the first housing 2204and/or the pellet grill 100, the ignitor 2406 can in turn be removedfrom the ignitor carrier 2408 and replaced with another (e.g., a newand/or replacement) ignitor 2406. The ignitor carrier 2408 and thereplacement ignitor 2406 can thereafter be reinserted and/or slid backinto the first housing 2204 and/or the pellet grill 100.

The fan 2410 of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-30 is coupled to the bottomwall 2420 of the first housing 2204 of the engine 312 in verticalalignment with the fourth opening 2806 of the first housing 2204. Thefan 2410 produces, generates, outputs, and/or controls an airflow to bedirected through the first housing 2204 form the fan 2410 to the burnpot 2216. The airflow produced, generated, and/or output by the fan 2410can subsequently pass from the burn pot 2216 into the cooking chamber1002 of the pellet grill 100 to provide a controlled circulation of hotair within the cooking chamber 1002. In the illustrated example of FIGS.22-30, the fan 2410 is a controllable, DC-powered, variable-speedelectric motor fan that operates in response to data, commands and/orsignals received from a control system (e.g., the control system 8200 ofFIG. 82 described below) of the pellet grill 100.

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of the heat diffuser 318 of the pelletgrill of FIGS. 1-13. FIG. 43 is a front view of the heat diffuser 318 ofFIG. 42. FIG. 44 is a side view of the heat diffuser 318 of FIGS. 42 and43. FIG. 45 is a top view of the heat diffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-44. FIG.46 is a cross-sectional view of the heat diffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-45taken along section H-H of FIG. 45. FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view ofthe heat diffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-46 taken along section I-I of FIG. 45.FIG. 48 is a perspective view of the heat diffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-47positioned over the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 22-39. FIG. 49 is a top viewof the heat diffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-47 positioned over the burn pot2216 of FIGS. 22-39. FIG. 50 is a cross-sectional view of the heatdiffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-47 positioned over the burn pot 2216 of FIGS.22-39, taken along section J-J of FIG. 49. FIG. 51 is a front view ofthe heat diffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-47 positioned over the burn pot 2216of FIGS. 22-39. FIG. 52 is a cross-sectional view of the heat diffuser318 of FIGS. 42-47 positioned over the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 22-39,taken along section K-K of FIG. 51. FIG. 53 is a perspective view of theheat diffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-47 positioned relative to the engine 312of FIGS. 22-30.

The heat diffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-53 is a rectangular box-shapedstructure that includes and/or is defined by an example front wall 4202,an example rear wall 4402 located opposite the front wall 4202 of theheat diffuser 318, an example first (e.g., left) sidewall 4302 extendingbetween the front wall 4202 and the rear wall 4402 of the heat diffuser318, an example second (e.g., right) sidewall 4204 extending between thefront wall 4202 and the rear wall 4402 of the heat diffuser 318 andlocated opposite the first sidewall 4302 of the heat diffuser 318, andan example top wall 4206 extending between the front wall 4202 and therear wall 4402 of the heat diffuser 318 and further extending betweenthe first sidewall 4302 and the second sidewall 4204 of the heatdiffuser 318.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 42-53, the front wall 4202, the rearwall 4402, the first sidewall 4302, the second sidewall 4204, and thetop wall 4206 of the heat diffuser 318 are closed walls. The heatdiffuser 318 further includes an example open bottom 4304 defined by thelower edges of the front wall 4202, the rear wall 4402, the firstsidewall 4302, and the second sidewall 4204 of the heat diffuser 318.The heat diffuser 318 is positioned and/or located within the pelletgrill 100 at a centralized position and/or location above the burn pot2216 of the pellet grill 100. For example, as shown in FIGS. 48-53, theheat diffuser 318 can be positioned and/or located above the burn pot2216 such that an example central axis 4306 of the heat diffuser 318that intersects the geometric center of the top wall 4206 of the heatdiffuser 318 aligns with (e.g., is colinear relative to) the centralaxis 3402 of the burn pot 2216. In the illustrated example of FIGS.48-53 the top wall 4206 of the heat diffuser 318 has a length (e.g.,measured from the front wall 4202 to the rear wall 4402 of the heatdiffuser 318) and a width (e.g., measured from the first sidewall 4302to the second sidewall 4204 of the heat diffuser 318) that respectivelyapproximate (e.g., are within ten percent of) the corresponding lengthand the corresponding width of the upper plate 2220 of the burn pot2216. The open bottom 4304 of the heat diffuser 318 is dimensioned in amanner that is substantially equal to the dimensions of the top wall4206 of the heat diffuser 318.

The heat diffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-53 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped,and/or positioned relative to the burn pot 2216) to receive heatemanating from and/or output by the burn pot 2216, and to evenlydistribute the received heat throughout the cooking chamber 1002 of thepellet grill 100. The size, shape and/or positioning of the heatdiffuser 318 relative to the burn pot 2216 also advantageously restrictsand/or reduces the ability of any ash (e.g., ash produced and/orgenerated in the burn pot 2216 as a byproduct of pellet fuel combustionand/or burning) that might escape upwardly from the burn pot 2216 fromentering an area of the cooking chamber 1002 of the pellet grill 100proximate the first cooking grate 302 of the pellet grill 100. In someexamples, the front wall 4202, the rear wall 4402, the first sidewall4302, and the second sidewall 4204 of the heat diffuser 318 eachpreferably have a height ranging between 0.5 inches and 6.0 inches. Insome examples, the top wall 4206 of the heat diffuser 318 preferably hasa length ranging between 3.0 and 12.0 inches and a width ranging between3.0 inches and 12.0 inches.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 42-53, the heat diffuser 318includes example legs 4208 extending downwardly from the first andsecond sidewalls 4302, 4204 of the heat diffuser 318 proximate the frontand rear walls 4202, 4402 of the heat diffuser 318. The legs 4208 of theheat diffuser 818 are configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged)to support the front wall 4202, the rear wall 4402, the first sidewall4302, the second sidewall 4204 and/or the top wall 4206 of the heatdiffuser 318 at a height above the upper plate 2220 of the burn pot 2216of the pellet grill 100. In some examples, the legs 4208 of the heatdiffuser 318 are configured to preferably support the top wall 4206 ofthe heat diffuser at a height ranging between 1.0 inches and 10.0 inchesabove the upper plate 2220 of the burn pot 2216. Each of the legs 4208of the heat diffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-53 includes an exampleoutwardly-extending flange 4210 (e.g., outwardly-extending relative tothe central axis 4306 of the heat diffuser 318) that functions as amounting and/or positioning arm. For example, the heat diffuser 318 canbe mounted to and/or positioned on the frame 2202 of the engine 312 ofthe pellet grill 100 via the flanges 4210 of the heat diffuser 318, asis generally shown in FIG. 53.

FIG. 54 is a partial cutaway view of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13showing the grease deflection bar assembly 320. FIG. 55 is a perspectiveview of the grease deflection bar assembly 320 of FIG. 54. FIG. 56 is atop view of the grease deflection bar assembly 320 of FIGS. 54 and 55.FIG. 57 is a front view of the grease deflection bar assembly 320 ofFIGS. 54-56. FIG. 58 is a side view of the grease deflection barassembly 320 of FIGS. 54-57. FIG. 59 is a front view of the greasedeflection bar assembly 320 of FIGS. 54-58 positioned over the heatdiffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-53 and the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 22-39. FIG.60 is a side view of the grease deflection bar assembly 320 of FIGS.54-58 positioned over the heat diffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-53 and the burnpot 2216 of FIGS. 22-39. FIG. 61 is a front view of the greasedeflection bar assembly 320 of FIGS. 54-58 positioned over the heatdiffuser 318 of FIGS. 42-53 and the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 22-39, withhidden lines shown. FIG. 62 is a side view of the grease deflection barassembly 320 of FIGS. 54-58 positioned over the heat diffuser 318 ofFIGS. 42-53 and the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 22-39, with hidden linesshown.

The grease deflection bar (e.g., FLAVORIZER® bar) assembly 320 of FIGS.54-62 includes an example front rack 5502, an example rear rack 5504located opposite the front rack 5502, an example first (e.g., larger)grease deflection bar 5506 extending from the front rack 5502 to therear rack 5504, and example second (e.g., smaller) grease deflectionbars 5508 extending from the front rack 5502 to the rear rack 5504 atrespective locations that are laterally spaced apart from the locationof the first grease deflection bar 5506. In the illustrated example ofFIGS. 54-62, the first grease deflection bar 5506 of the greasedeflection bar assembly 320 is positioned and/or located at a centrallateral location of the grease deflection bar assembly 320, two of thesecond grease deflection bars 5508 of the grease deflection bar assembly320 are located at respective lateral positions to the left of the firstgrease deflection bar 5506, and another two of the second greasedeflection bars 5508 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320 arelocated at respective lateral positions to the right of the first greasedeflection bar 5506. As shown in FIGS. 59-62, the first greasedeflection bar 5506 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320 ispositioned and/or located at a centralized position and/or locationabove the heat diffuser 318 and/or above the burn pot 2216 of the pelletgrill 100.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 54-62, the first grease deflectionbar 5506 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320 has a lateral extentthat is equal to and/or greater than the lateral extent of the heatdiffuser 318 and/or the lateral extent of the burn pot 2216. The firstgrease deflection bar 5506 and/or the second grease deflection bars 5508advantageously direct(s) grease (e.g., as may be received at the firstgrease deflection bar 5506 and/or the second grease deflection bars 5508from food being cooked on the first cooking grate 302 and/or the secondcooking grate 304 positioned above the grease deflection bar assembly320 of the pellet grill 100) toward one or more of the grease channels902 formed in the bottom of the outer wall 108 of the main body 102 ofthe pellet grill 100. The lateral extent of the first grease deflectionbar 5506 advantageously restricts and/or reduces the ability of greasefrom contacting and/or entering the heat diffuser 318 and/or the burnpot 2216 of the pellet grill 100.

The front rack 5502 and the rear rack 5504 of the grease deflection barassembly 320 of FIGS. 54-62 are removably positioned on and/or supportedby tabs, flanges and/or mounts that extend inwardly from the outer wall108 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100. The first and secondgrease deflection bars 5506, 5508 of the grease deflection bar assembly320 of FIGS. 54-62 are removably positioned on and/or supported by thefront and rear racks 5502, 5504 of the grease deflection bar assembly320. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 54-62, respective ones of thefirst and second grease deflection bars 5506, 5508 of the greasedeflection bar assembly 320 can be removed from the front and rear racks5502, 5504 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320 and/or, moregenerally, removed from the pellet grill 100 without requiring removalof any mechanical fasteners, thereby improving the ease with which thefirst and second grease deflection bars 5506, 5508 can be cleaned and/orreplaced, and/or improving the ease with which a user can access thelower portion of the cooking chamber 1002 of the pellet grill 100.Respective ones of the front and rear racks 5502, 5504 of the greasedeflection bar assembly 320 can also be removed from the pellet grill100 without requiring removal of any mechanical fasteners, therebyimproving the ease with which the front and rear racks 5502, 5504 can becleaned and/or replaced, and/or improving the ease with which a user canaccess portions of the cooking chamber 1002 of the pellet grill 100 thatwould otherwise be obstructed by the front and rear racks 5502, 5504 ofthe grease deflection bar assembly 320.

FIG. 63 is a perspective view of the waste collection drawer 134 of thepellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13. FIG. 64 is an exploded view of the wastecollection drawer 134 of FIG. 63. FIG. 65 is a front view of the wastecollection drawer 134 of FIGS. 63 and 64. FIG. 66 is a rear view of thewaste collection drawer 134 of FIGS. 63-65. FIG. 67 is a top view of thewaste collection drawer 134 of FIGS. 63-66. FIG. 68 is a cross-sectionalview of the waste collection drawer 134 of FIGS. 63-67 taken alongsection L-L of FIG. 67. FIG. 69 is a cross-sectional view of the wastecollection drawer 134 of FIGS. 63-68 taken along section M-M of FIG. 67.FIG. 70 is a front view of a portion of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS.1-13 with the waste collection drawer 134 of FIGS. 63-69 located belowthe main body 102 in an example closed position. FIG. 71 is across-sectional view of FIG. 70 taken along section N-N of FIG. 70.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 63-71, the waste collection drawer134 includes an example drawer support frame 6302, an example lowerpanel 6304, and example drawer base 6306, an example bin positioner6308, an example ash compartment 6310, and an example grease bin 6312.The waste collection drawer 134 can additionally include an ash binconfigured (sized, shaped and/or arranged) to be positioned in the ashcompartment 6310. The drawer support frame 6302 and the lower panel 6304of FIGS. 63-71 support and/or carry the drawer base 6306 of the wastecollection drawer 134. The drawer base 6306 of FIGS. 63-71 supportsand/or carries the bin positioner 6308 and defines the ash compartment6310 of the waste collection drawer 134. The bin positioner 6308supports and/or carries the grease bin 6312 and further defines the ashcompartment 6310 of the waste collection drawer 134. The ash compartment6310 of the waste collection drawer 134 is positioned in verticalalignment with the second opening 3202 and/or the fuel grate 2402 of theburn pot 2216 of the pellet grill 100, and/or in vertical alignment withthe ash slide 2404 of the engine 312 of the pellet grill 100. The greasebin 6312 is positioned forward of the ash compartment 6310 in verticalalignment with the grease channels 902 formed in the bottom of the outerwall 108 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 63-71, the drawer support frame 6302includes an example first (e.g., left) sidewall 6402, an example second(e.g., right) sidewall 6404 located opposite the first sidewall 6402, anexample rear wall 6406 extending between the first and second sidewalls6402, 6404, example first flanges 6408 extending outwardly from theforward ends of the first and second sidewalls 6402, 6404, examplesecond flanges 6410 extending rearwardly from the rear wall 6406,example third flanges 6412 extending inwardly from the bottom ends ofthe first and second sidewalls 6402, 6404, and example mechanical stops6414 extending inwardly from the forward ends of the first and secondsidewalls 6402, 6404.

The first flanges 6408 of the drawer support frame 6302 are configured(e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to mount and/or couple the drawersupport frame 6302 to the cross member 126 of the pellet grill 100. Thesecond flanges 6410 of the drawer support frame 6302 are configured(e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to mount and/or couple the drawersupport frame 6302 to second housing 2206 of the engine 312 of thepellet grill 100. The lower panel 6304 of the waste collection drawer134 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to be mountedand/or coupled to the third flanges 6412 of the drawer support frame6302. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 63-71, the lower panel 6304includes example openings 6416 positioned in vertical alignment withcorresponding ones of the grease channels 902 formed in the bottom ofthe outer wall 108 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100. Theopenings 6416 of the lower panel 6304 are configured (e.g., sized,shaped and/or arranged) to allow grease to pass through the lower panel6304 when the waste collection drawer 134 is in an open position and thepellet grill 100 is in use (e.g., performing a cooking operation).

The mechanical stops 6414 of the drawer support frame 6302 areconfigured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to provide a forwardstop to prevent the drawer base 6306 of the waste collection drawer 134of FIGS. 63-71 from being unintentionally removed (e.g., forwardly) fromthe drawer support frame 6302 when the waste collection drawer 134 isbeing moved from a closed position to an open position. The rear wall6406 of the drawer support frame 6302 forms an end stop that preventsthe drawer base 6306 of the waste collection drawer 134 of FIGS. 63-71from extending too far rearwardly when the waste collection drawer 134is being moved from an open position to a closed position.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 63-71, the drawer base 6306 includesan example front wall 6418, an example rear wall 6420 located oppositethe front wall 6418, an example first (e.g., left) sidewall 6422extending between the front wall 6418 and the rear wall 6420, an examplesecond (e.g., right) sidewall 6424 located opposite the first sidewall6422 and extending between the front wall 6418 and the rear wall 6420,and an example bottom wall 6426 extending between the front wall 6418and the rear wall 6420 and further extending between the first sidewall6422 and the second sidewall 6424. The drawer base 6306 is configured(e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to slidingly mate with drawersupport frame 6302 and/or the lower panel 6304. The drawer base 6306 ofthe waste collection drawer 134 of FIGS. 63-71 is accordingly slidablerelative to the drawer support frame 6302 of the waste collection drawer134 of FIGS. 63-71. The first and second sidewalls 6422, 6424 of thedrawer base 6306 include example mechanical stops 6428 that areconfigured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arrange) to engage the mechanicalstops 6414 of the drawer support frame 6302 described above.

The bottom wall 6426 of the drawer base 6306 of FIGS. 63-71 supportsand/or carries the bin positioner 6308 of the waste collection drawer134. The first and second sidewalls 6422, 6424 of the drawer base 6306provide support surfaces that prevent the bin positioner 6308, thegrease bin 6312, and/or an ash bin (e.g., positioned in the ashcompartment 6310) from sliding off of and/or falling out of the drawerbase 6306 and/or, more generally, the waste collection drawer 134 of thepellet grill 100. The front wall 6418 of the drawer base 6306 of FIGS.63-71 includes the above-described tab 136 of the waste collectiondrawer 134. The tab 136 facilitates moving the drawer base 6306 and/or,more generally, moving the waste collection drawer 134 from a closedposition to an open position, or vice-versa.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 63-71, the bin positioner 6308includes an example front wall 6430, an example rear wall 6432 locatedopposite the front wall 6430, and an example bottom wall 6434 extendingbetween the front wall 6430 and the rear wall 6432. The bin positioner6308 is positioned on and/or within the drawer base 6306 at a fixedlocation. The ash compartment 6310 extends between the rear wall 6432 ofthe bin positioner and the rear wall 6420 of the drawer base 6306. Theash compartment 6310 of the waste collection drawer 134 is configured(e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to supported, carry and/orposition an ash bin. The ash compartment 6310 is vertically aligned withand/or positioned below the second opening 3202 and/or the fuel grate2402 of the burn pot 2216 of the pellet grill 100, and/or below the ashslide 2404 of the engine 312 of the pellet grill 100, therebyfacilitating the ash bin and/or the ash compartment 6310 receiving ashfrom the burn pot 2216 and/or the ash slide 2404 of the pellet grill100. The ash bin is removable from the ash compartment 6310 when thewaste collection drawer 134 is in an open position, thereby facilitatingthe removal and/or disposal of the contents (e.g., ash) of the ash bin.

The grease bin 6312 of the waste collection drawer 134 is configured(e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to be supported, carried and/orpositioned by the bin positioner 6308. The grease bin 6312 is verticallyaligned with and/or positioned below the grease channels 902 formed inthe bottom of the outer wall 108 of the main body 102 of the pelletgrill 100, thereby facilitating the grease bin 6312 receiving greasefrom the cooking chamber 1002 and/or the main body 102 of the pelletgrill 100. The grease bin 6312 is removable from the bin positioner 6308and/or the drawer base 6306 when the waste collection drawer 134 is inan open position, thereby facilitating the removal and/or disposal ofthe contents (e.g., grease) of the grease bin 6312.

FIG. 72 is a front view of a portion of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS.1-13 with an alternate waste collection drawer 7202 located below themain body 102 of the pellet grill 100 in an example closed position.FIG. 73 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 72 taken along section O-O ofFIG. 72. The alternate waste collection drawer 7202 of FIG. 72 is a binthat can be removed (e.g., downwardly) from the main body 102 of thepellet grill 100 in response to a user squeezing an example handle 7204of the alternate waste collection drawer 7202.

FIG. 74 is a perspective view of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13 withthe first and second hinges 1204, 1206 of the lid 110 of the pelletgrill 100 in an example open position. FIG. 75 is an enlarged view of aportion of FIG. 74. FIG. 76 is a front view of the pellet grill 100 ofFIGS. 1-13 with the first and second hinges 1204, 1206 of the lid 110 ofthe pellet grill 100 in an example open position. FIG. 77 is across-sectional view of FIG. 76 taken along section P-P of FIG. 76. FIG.78 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 76 taken along section Q-Q of FIG.76. FIG. 79 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 76 taken along section R-Rof FIG. 76. FIG. 80 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 78. FIG. 81is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 79.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 74-81, the lid 110 of the pelletgrill 100 is rotatably coupled to the main body 102 of the pellet grill100 via the first and second hinges 1204, 1206. Each of the first andsecond hinges 1204, 1206 includes a hinge arm 1208 that is rigidlycoupled to the lid 110 and rotatably coupled to a corresponding examplehinge bracket 7402. A first one of the hinge brackets 7402 (e.g.,associated with the first hinge 1204) is rigidly coupled to the outerwall 108 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill and is further rigidlycoupled to an encircling wall of the first end cap 104 of the main body102 of the pellet grill 100. A second one of the hinge brackets 7402(e.g., associated with the second hinge 1206) is rigidly coupled to theouter wall 108 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill and is furtherrigidly coupled to an encircling wall of the second end cap 106 of themain body 102 of the pellet grill 100. Each of the hinge arms 1208 has acurved shape and/or profile that complements and/or matches the curvedshape and/or profile of the lid 110. In the illustrated example of FIGS.74-81, the hinge arms 1208 form a frame that provides support and/orstructural stability for the lid 110 of the pellet grill 100. While theremaining description of the first and second hinges 1204, 1206 providedbelow is directed primarily to the structure and/or operation of thesecond hinge 1206, the informed reader will appreciate that the firsthinge 1204 is implemented in a mirrored configuration relative to thesecond hinge 1206.

The hinge arm 1208 of the second hinge 1206 of FIGS. 74-81 includes anexample clevis 7404. In addition to having a curved shape and/or profilethat complements and/or matches the curved shape and/or profile of thelid 110, the hinge arm 1208 of the second hinge 1206 is furtherconfigured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to provide an examplemechanical stop 7406 that limits and/or restricts the extent to whichthe lid 110 can be opened relative to the main body 102 of the pelletgrill 100. The hinge bracket 7402 of the second hinge 1206 of FIGS.74-81 includes an example base 7902, an example flange 7408 extendingdownwardly from the base 7902 of the hinge bracket 7402, and an examplepost 7410 extending inwardly (e.g., inwardly toward the cooking chamber1002) from the flange 7408 of the hinge bracket 7402. The clevis 7404 ofthe hinge arm 1208 of the second hinge 1206 is configured (e.g., sized,shaped and/or arrange) to receive the post 7410 of the hinge bracket7402 of the second hinge 1206 to rotatably couple the hinge arm 1208 ofthe second hinge 1206 to the hinge bracket 7402 of the second hinge1206.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 74-81, the base 7902 of the hingebracket 7402 of the second hinge 1206 is positioned and/or locatedadjacent an upper portion of an example encircling wall 7904 of thesecond end cap 106 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100, and theflange 7408 of the hinge bracket 7402 of the second hinge 1206 ispositioned and/or located adjacent the second liner 316 contained withinthe main body 102 of the pellet grill 100. As shown in FIGS. 77-81, thebase 7902 and the flange 7408 of the hinge bracket 7402 of the secondhinge 1206 respectively have a curved shape and/or profile thatcomplements and/or matches the curved shape and/or profile of the secondend cap 106 and/or the outer wall 108 of the main body 102 of the pelletgrill 100. As shown in FIGS. 79 and 81, the base 7902 of the hingebracket 7402 of the second hinge 1206 is rigidly coupled (e.g., viaexample fasteners 7906) to the outer wall 108 of the main body 102 ofthe pellet grill and to the encircling wall 7904 of the second end cap106 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100.

FIG. 82 is a block diagram of an example control system 8200 to beimplemented in connection with the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13. Thecontrol system 8200 of FIG. 82 includes an example DC power supply 8202,an example first control board 8204, an example second control board8206, an example memory 8208, an example temperature sensor 8210, anexample lid position sensor 8212, an example fuel level sensor 8214, anexample food probe 8216, the user interface 138 (e.g., including exampleinput device(s) 8218 and example output device(s) 8220), and the engine312 (e.g., including the auger motor 2214, the ignitor 2406, and the fan2410).

The DC power supply 8202 of FIG. 82 receives AC power from an example ACline power source 8222 (e.g., a wall outlet) to which the DC powersupply 8202 and/or, more generally, the pellet grill 100 is electricallyconnected. The DC power supply 8202 converts AC power received from theAC line power source 8222 into DC power that can thereafter be suppliedto the first control board 8204, the second control board 8206, thememory 8208, the temperature sensor 8210, the lid position sensor 8212,the fuel level sensor 8214, the food probe 8216, the user interface 138,the auger motor 2214, the ignitor 2406, and/or the fan 2410 of thepellet grill 100. In some examples, the distribution of DC power fromthe DC power supply 8202 to any of the aforementioned components of thecontrol system 8200 can be controlled and/or managed by the firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206.

The first and second control boards 8204, 8206 of FIG. 82 canrespectively include any number of processors, microprocessors,controllers, microcontrollers, timers, counters, transmitters,receivers, circuits and/or other electrical components. Although thefirst and second control boards 8204, 8206 are shown in FIG. 82 as beingseparate components, in other examples the first and second controlboards 8204, 8206 can be implemented as a single control board. In theillustrated example of FIG. 82, the first and second control boards8204, 8206 of FIG. 82 are operatively coupled to (e.g., in electricalcommunication with) one another. The first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 is/are additionally operatively coupled to(e.g., in electrical communication with) the memory 8208, thetemperature sensor 8210, the lid position sensor 8212, the fuel levelsensor 8214, the food probe 8216, the user interface 138, the augermotor 2214, the ignitor 2406, and/or the fan 2410.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 82, the first control board 8204and/or the second control board 8206 control and/or manage one or moreoperation(s) of the user interface 138, the auger motor 2214, theignitor 2406, and/or the fan 2410. In some examples, the first controlboard 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 receive data, commandsand/or signals from, and/or transmit data, commands and/or signals to,the memory 8208, the temperature sensor 8210, the lid position sensor8212, the fuel level sensor 8214, the food probe 8216, the userinterface 138, the auger motor 2214, the ignitor 2406, and/or the fan2410 of FIG. 82. In other examples, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 wirelessly receive data, commands and/orsignal(s) from, and/or wirelessly transmit data, commands and/or signalsto, one or more remotely located electronic devices (e.g., a cloudserver, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a personal computer,etc.).

The memory 8208 of FIG. 82 can be implemented by any type(s) and/or anynumber(s) of storage device(s) such as a storage drive, a flash memory,a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a cache and/orany other physical storage medium in which information is stored for anyduration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, brief instances,for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the information). Theinformation stored in the memory 8208 of FIG. 82 can be stored in anyfile and/or data structure format, organization scheme, and/orarrangement.

The memory 8208 stores data sensed, measured and/or detected by thetemperature sensor 8210, the lid position sensor 8212, the fuel levelsensor 8214, the food probe 8216, the user interface 138, the augermotor 2214, the ignitor 2406, and/or the fan 2410 of the control system8200 of FIG. 82. The memory 8208 also stores data sensed, measured,detected, generated, transmitted, and/or received by the first controlboard 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system8200 of FIG. 82. The memory 8208 also stores instructions (e.g.,computer-readable instructions) and associated data corresponding to theauger jam detection, lid movement detection, flame out detection, lowfuel detection, end-of-cook detection, shutdown detection, impropershutdown detection, ignitor duty cycle detection, and/or wastecollection drawer duty cycle detection protocols, processes, sequencesand/or methods described below in connection with FIGS. 83-92. Thememory 8208 of FIG. 82 is accessible to one or more of the first controlboard 8204, the second control board 8206, the temperature sensor 8210,the lid position sensor 8212, the fuel level sensor 8214, the food probe8216, the user interface 138, the auger motor 2214, the ignitor 2406,the fan 2410 and/or, more generally, to the control system 8200 of FIG.82.

The temperature sensor 8210 of the control system 8200 of FIG. 82senses, measures and/or detects the temperature of the cooking chamber1002 of the pellet grill 100. In some examples, the temperature sensor8210 can be implemented by and/or as a thermocouple positioned in and/orextending into the cooking chamber 1002 of the pellet grill 100. Dataand/or signals sensed, measured and/or detected by the temperaturesensor 8210 of FIG. 82 may be of any quantity, type, form and/or format,and may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium such as thememory 8208 of FIG. 82.

The lid position sensor 8212 of the control system 8200 of FIG. 82senses, measures and/or detects a position (e.g., an open positionand/or a closed position) of the lid 110 of the pellet grill 100. Insome examples, the lid position sensor 8212 can be implemented by and/oras a proximity sensor having one or more component(s) coupled to the lid110 and/or the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100. Data and/orsignals sensed, measured and/or detected by the lid position sensor 8212of FIG. 82 may be of any quantity, type, form and/or format, and may bestored in a computer-readable storage medium such as the memory 8208 ofFIG. 82.

The fuel level sensor 8214 of the control system 8200 of FIG. 82 senses,measures and/or detects the level of fuel present in the hopper 132. Insome examples, the fuel level sensor 8214 can be implemented by and/oras a pressure sensor, a weight sensor, a visual (e.g. infrared) sensor,and/or any type of level sensor positioned in and/or extending into thehopper 132 of the pellet grill 100. Data and/or signals sensed, measuredand/or detected by the fuel level sensor 8214 of FIG. 82 may be of anyquantity, type, form and/or format, and may be stored in acomputer-readable storage medium such as the memory 8208 of FIG. 82.

The food probe 8216 of the control system 8200 of FIG. 82 senses,measures and/or detects the temperature of an item of food that the foodprobe 8216 has been inserted into and/or placed in contact with. In someexamples, the food probe 8216 can be implemented by and/or as a probethermocouple configured to be inserted into (e.g., to pierce) an item offood. Data and/or signals sensed, measured and/or detected by the foodprobe 8216 of FIG. 82 may be of any quantity, type, form and/or format,and may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium such as thememory 8208 of FIG. 82.

While an example manner of implementing the control system 8200 isillustrated in FIG. 82, one or more of the components, elements and/ordevices illustrated in FIG. 82 may be combined, divided, re-arranged,omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way. Further, the DCpower supply 8202, the first control board 8204, the second controlboard 8206, the memory 8208, the temperature sensor 8210, the lidposition sensor 8212, the fuel level sensor 8214, the food probe 8216,the user interface 138 (including the input device(s) 8218 and theoutput device(s) 8220), and/or, more generally, the control system 8200of FIG. 82 may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or anycombination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example,any of the DC power supply 8202, the first control board 8204, thesecond control board 8206, the memory 8208, the temperature sensor 8210,the lid position sensor 8212, the fuel level sensor 8214, the food probe8216, and/or the user interface 138 (including the input device(s) 8218and the output device(s) 8220) of FIG. 82 could be implemented by one ormore analog or digital circuit(s), logic circuit(s), programmableprocessor(s), programmable controller(s), digital signal processor(s),application specific integrated circuit(s), programmable logicdevice(s), and/or field programmable logic device(s). When reading anyof the apparatus or system claims of this patent to cover a purelysoftware and/or firmware implementation, at least one of the firstcontrol board 8204, the second control board 8206, and/or the memory8208 of the control system 8200 of FIG. 82 is/are hereby expresslydefined to include a non-transitory computer readable storage device orstorage disk such as a memory, a digital versatile disk, a compact disk,a Blu-ray disk, etc. including software and/or firmware. As used herein,the phrase “in communication,” including variations thereof, encompassesdirect communication and/or indirect communication through one or moreintermediary component(s), and does not require direct physical (e.g.,wired) communication and/or constant communication, but ratheradditionally includes selective communication at periodic intervals,scheduled intervals, aperiodic intervals, and/or one-time events.

Flowcharts representative of example hardware logic, machine-readableinstructions, hardware implemented state machines, and/or anycombination thereof for implementing the control system 8200 of FIG. 82are shown in FIGS. 83-92. The machine-readable instructions may be oneor more executable program(s) or portion(s) of executable program(s) forexecution by one or more processor(s) and/or controller(s). Theprogram(s) may be embodied in software stored on a non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium such as a hard drive, a flash drive, ora memory associated with the processor(s) and/or controller(s), but theentire program(s) and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executedby a device other than the processor(s) and/or controller(s) and/orembodied in firmware or dedicated hardware. Further, although theexample program(s) is/are described with reference to the flowchartsillustrated in FIGS. 83-92, many other methods of implementing thecontrol system 8200 of FIG. 82 may alternatively be used. For example,the order of execution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of theblocks described may be changed, eliminated, or combined. Additionallyor alternatively, any or all of the blocks may be implemented by one ormore hardware circuit(s) (e.g., discrete and/or integrated analog and/ordigital circuitry, an FPGA, an ASIC, a comparator, anoperational-amplifier (op-amp), a logic circuit, etc.) structured toperform the corresponding operation without executing software orfirmware.

The machine-readable instructions described herein may be stored in oneor more of a compressed format, an encrypted format, a fragmentedformat, a packaged format, etc. Machine-readable instructions asdescribed herein may be stored as data (e.g., portions of instructions,code, representations of code, etc.) that may be utilized to create,manufacture, and/or produce machine-executable instructions. Forexample, the machine-readable instructions may be fragmented and storedon one or more storage device(s) and/or computing device(s) (e.g.,servers). The machine-readable instructions may require one or more ofinstallation, modification, adaptation, updating, combining,supplementing, configuring, decryption, decompression, unpacking,distribution, reassignment, etc. in order to make them directly readableand/or executable by a computing device and/or other machine. Forexample, the machine-readable instructions may be stored in multipleparts, which are individually compressed, encrypted, and stored onseparate computing devices, wherein the parts when decrypted,decompressed, and combined form a set of executable instructions thatimplement a program such as that described herein. In another example,the machine-readable instructions may be stored in a state in which theymay be read by a computer, but require addition of a library (e.g., adynamic link library (DLL)), a software development kit (SDK), anapplication programming interface (API), etc. in order to execute theinstructions on a particular computing device or other device. Inanother example, the machine-readable instructions may need to beconfigured (e.g., settings stored, data input, network addressesrecorded, etc.) before the machine-readable instructions and/or thecorresponding program(s) can be executed in whole or in part. Thus, thedisclosed machine-readable instructions and/or corresponding program(s)are intended to encompass such machine-readable instructions and/orprogram(s) regardless of the particular format or state of themachine-readable instructions and/or program(s) when stored or otherwiseat rest or in transit.

As mentioned above, the example processes of FIGS. 83-92 may beimplemented using executable instructions (e.g., computer and/ormachine-readable instructions) stored on a non-transitory computerand/or machine-readable medium such as a hard disk drive, a flashmemory, a read-only memory, a cache, a random-access memory and/or anyother storage device or storage disk in which information is stored forany duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, for briefinstances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of theinformation). As used herein, the term “non-transitory computer-readablemedium” is expressly defined to include any type of computer-readablestorage device and/or storage disk and to exclude propagating signalsand to exclude transmission media.

“Including” and “comprising” (and all forms and tenses thereof) are usedherein to be open ended terms. Thus, whenever a claim employs any formof “include” or “comprise” (e.g., comprises, includes, comprising,including, having, etc.) as a preamble or within a claim recitation ofany kind, it is to be understood that additional elements, terms, etc.may be present without falling outside the scope of the correspondingclaim or recitation. As used herein, when the phrase “at least” is usedas the transition term in, for example, a preamble of a claim, it isopen-ended in the same manner as the term “comprising” and “including”are open ended. The term “and/or” when used, for example, in a form suchas A, B, and/or C refers to any combination or subset of A, B, C such as(1) A alone, (2) B alone, (3) C alone, (4) A with B, (5) A with C, (6) Bwith C, and (7) A with B and with C. As used herein in the context ofdescribing structures, components, items, objects and/or things, thephrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to refer to implementationsincluding any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) atleast one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the contextof describing structures, components, items, objects and/or things, thephrase “at least one of A or B” is intended to refer to implementationsincluding any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) atleast one A and at least one B.

The control system 8200 of FIG. 82 implements, manages, and/or controlsan auger jam detection protocol and/or process in connection with theauger 2212 and/or the auger motor 2214 of the pellet grill 100. Thefirst control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 is/are configured to detect a jam of the auger 2212(e.g., resulting from expanded, swelled, overly-packed, and/or otherwiseclogged pellet fuel). In some examples, the jam of the auger 2212 isdetected based on an increased torque demand associated with the augermotor 2214 that is measured, sensed and/or detected by the first controlboard 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system8200. In response to detecting the jam of the auger 2212, the firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the controlsystem 8200 command(s) the auger motor 2214 to modify (e.g., reverse)the direction of rotation of the auger 2212 (e.g., from a clockwiserotation to a counterclockwise rotation, or vice-versa) toadvantageously facilitate clearing the jam. In some examples, the firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the controlsystem 8200 command(s) the auger motor 2214 to reverse the direction ofrotation of the auger 2212 on a single occasion for a predeterminedperiod of time before subsequently commanding the auger motor 2214 toreturn the auger 2212 to its original direction of rotation. In otherexamples, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 command(s) the auger motor 2214 tofrequently reverse the existing direction of rotation of the auger 2212in a manner that results in the rotation of the auger 2212 beingrepeatedly pulsed between a first direction of rotation and a seconddirection of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation.

In some examples, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 generate(s) (e.g., in the form ofa command, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100 in connection with detecting the jam of the auger 2212. Thenotification(s) and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example, that a jamhas been detected, that the detected jam has been cleared successfully,and/or that the detected jam has not been cleared successfully. Thefirst control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 can additionally or alternatively cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device (e.g., a cloud server, asmartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a personal computer, etc.) forpresentation and/or analysis thereon.

FIG. 83 is a flowchart representing an example method 8300 forimplementing an auger jam detection protocol and/or process via thecontrol system 8200 of FIG. 82. The method 8300 of FIG. 83 begins withthe control system 8200 determining whether a jam of the auger 2212 ofthe engine 312 of the pellet grill 100 has been detected (block 8302).For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 can determine that the auger 2212is jammed based on an increased torque demand associated with the augermotor 2214 of the engine 312 that is measured, sensed and/or detected bythe first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200. If the control system 8200 determines at block 8302that a jam of the auger 2212 has not been detected, the method 8300 ofFIG. 83 remains at block 8302. If the control system 8200 insteaddetermines at block 8302 that a jam of the auger 2212 has been detected,the method 8300 of FIG. 83 proceeds to block 8304.

At block 8304, the control system 8200 commands the auger motor 2214 ofthe engine 312 to modify the rotation of the auger 2212 of the engine312 (block 8304). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can command theauger motor 2214 to modify (e.g., reverse) the direction of rotation ofthe auger 2212 (e.g., from a clockwise rotation to a counterclockwiserotation, or vice-versa) to facilitate clearing the jam. In someexamples, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 command(s) the auger motor 2214 to reverse the direction ofrotation of the auger 2212 on a single occasion for a predeterminedperiod of time before subsequently commanding the auger motor 2214 toreturn the auger 2212 to its original direction of rotation. In otherexamples, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 command(s) the auger motor 2214 to frequently reverse the existingdirection of rotation of the auger 2212 in a manner that results in therotation of the auger 2212 being repeatedly pulsed between a firstdirection of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite thefirst direction of rotation. Following block 8304, the method 8300 ofFIG. 83 proceeds to block 8306.

At block 8306, the control system 8200 determines whether the jam of theauger 2212 of the engine 312 has been cleared (block 8306). For example,the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 can determine that the auger 2212 is no longerjammed based on a reduction in the torque demand associated with theauger motor 2214 of the engine 312 that is measured, sensed and/ordetected by the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200. If the control system 8200 determinesat block 8306 that the jam of the auger 2212 has been cleared, themethod 8300 of FIG. 83 proceeds to block 8308. If the control system8200 instead determines at block 8306 that the jam of the auger 2212 hasnot been cleared, the method 8300 of FIG. 83 proceeds to block 8312.

At block 8308, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with detecting that the jamof the auger 2212 has been cleared (block 8308). For example, the firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the controlsystem 8200 can generate one or more notification(s) and/or alert(s)indicating that a jam of the auger 2212 was detected and successfullycleared. Following block 8308, the method 8300 of FIG. 83 proceeds toblock 8310.

At block 8310, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 8308) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 8310). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 8310, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 8308) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 8310). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 8310, themethod 8300 of FIG. 83 proceeds to block 8316.

At block 8312, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with detecting that the jamof the auger 2212 has not been cleared (block 8312). For example, thefirst control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 can generate one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) indicating that a jam of the auger 2212 was detected and notsuccessfully cleared. Following block 8312, the method 8300 of FIG. 83proceeds to block 8314.

At block 8314, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 8312) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 8314). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 8314, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 8312) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 8314). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 8314, themethod 8300 of FIG. 83 proceeds to block 8316.

At block 8316, the control system 8200 determines whether to end (e.g.,discontinue) the auger jam detection protocol (block 8316). For example,the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 can detect that the auger jam detection protocol isto be discontinued based on a user input received via the user interface138 of the pellet grill 100 instructing and/or commanding the controlsystem 8200 to terminate the auger jam detection protocol, and/orinstructing the control system 8200 to initiate a shutdown sequence ofthe pellet grill 100. If the control system 8200 determines at block8316 that the auger jam detection protocol is not to end, the method8300 of FIG. 83 returns to block 8302. If the control system 8200instead determines at block 8316 that the auger jam detection protocolis to end, the method 8300 of FIG. 83 ends.

The control system 8200 of FIG. 82 implements, manages, and/or controlsa lid movement detection protocol and/or process in connection with theengine 312 and/or the lid 110 of the pellet grill 100. The first controlboard 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system8200 is/are configured to detect a lid opening movement (e.g., movingthe lid 110 from a closed position to an open position), as may beindicated by detection of a rapid decline of the cooking chamber 1002temperature relative to a temperature setpoint associated with thecooking chamber 1002. The first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 is/are further configuredto detect a lid closing movement (e.g., moving the lid 110 from an openposition to a closed position), as may be indicated by detection of astabilization and/or an initial recovery of the cooking chamber 1002temperature toward the temperature setpoint subsequent to theabove-described detection of the rapid decline of the cooking chamber1002 temperature.

In some examples, the lid opening and/or lid closing movement(s) is/aredetected based on data that is sensed and/or measured by the temperaturesensor 8210 of the control system 8200. In other examples, the lidopening and/or lid closing movement(s) is/are additionally oralternatively detected based on data that is sensed and/or measured bythe lid position sensor 8212 of the control system 8200. In response todetecting the lid opening and/or the lid closing movement(s), the firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the controlsystem 8200 command(s) the auger motor 2214 and/or, more generally, theengine 312 of the pellet grill 100 to operate in an increased outputmode that increases (e.g., maximizes) the heat output of the engine 312for a predetermined period of time, and/or until a temperature of thecooking chamber 1002 of the pellet grill 100 recovers to a temperaturesetpoint associated with the cooking chamber 1002.

In some examples, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 generate(s) (e.g., in the form ofa command, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100 in connection with detecting the lid opening and/or the lidclosing movement(s). The notification(s) and/or alert(s) may indicate,for example, that a lid opening movement has been detected, and/or thata lid closing movement has been detected. The first control board 8204and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 canadditionally or alternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be wirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon.

FIG. 84 is a flowchart representing an example method 8400 forimplementing a lid movement detection protocol and/or process via thecontrol system 8200 of FIG. 82. The method 8400 of FIG. 84 begins withthe control system 8200 determining whether a lid opening movement ofthe lid 110 of the pellet grill 100 has been detected (block 8402). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can determine that the lid 110 has beenmoved from a closed position to an open position, as may be indicated bydetection of a rapid decline of the cooking chamber 1002 temperaturerelative to a temperature setpoint associated with the cooking chamber1002. In some examples, the lid opening movement can be detected basedon data that is sensed and/or measured by the temperature sensor 8210 ofthe control system 8200. In other examples, the lid opening movement canadditionally or alternatively be detected based on data that is sensedand/or measured by the lid position sensor 8212 of the control system8200. If the control system 8200 determines at block 8402 that a lidopening movement of the lid 110 has not been detected, the method 8400of FIG. 84 remains at block 8402. If the control system 8200 insteaddetermines at block 8402 that a lid opening movement of the lid 110 hasbeen detected, the method 8400 of FIG. 84 proceeds to block 8404.

At block 8404, the control system 8200 commands the engine 312 tooperate in a reduced output mode that facilitates conserving pellet fuel(block 8404). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can command theauger motor 2214 and/or the fan 2410 of the engine 312 to modifyits/their operation(s) to operate in a reduced output mode thatdecreases (e.g., minimizes) the rate at which the engine 312 consumesand/or combusts pellet fuel. Following block 8404, the method 8400 ofFIG. 84 proceeds to block 8406.

At block 8406, the control system 8200 determines whether a lid closingmovement of the lid 110 of the pellet grill 100 has been detected (block8406). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can determine that the lid110 has been moved from an open position to a closed position, as may beindicated by detection of a stabilization and/or an initial recovery ofthe cooking chamber 1002 temperature toward the temperature setpointsubsequent to the above-described detection of the rapid decline of thecooking chamber 1002 temperature. In some examples, the lid closingmovement can be detected based on data that is sensed and/or measured bythe temperature sensor 8210 of the control system 8200. In otherexamples, the lid closing movement can additionally or alternatively bedetected based on data that is sensed and/or measured by the lidposition sensor 8212 of the control system 8200. If the control system8200 determines at block 8406 that a lid closing movement of the lid 110has not been detected, the method 8400 of FIG. 84 remains at block 8406.If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 8406 that a lidclosing movement of the lid 110 has been detected, the method 8400 ofFIG. 84 proceeds to block 8408.

At block 8408, the control system 8200 commands the engine 312 tooperate in an increased output mode that facilitates increasing thetemperature within the cooking chamber 1002 as quickly as the engine 312is capable of (block 8408). For example, the first control board 8204and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 cancommand the auger motor 2214 and/or the fan 2410 of the engine 312 tomodify its/their operation(s) (e.g., from the reduced output mode) tooperate in an increased output mode that increases (e.g., maximizes) theheat output of the engine 312. Following block 8408, the method 8400 ofFIG. 84 proceeds to block 8410.

At block 8410, the control system 8200 determines whether thetemperature within the cooking chamber 1002 has recovered to thetemperature setpoint (block 8410). For example, the first control board8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 candetermine that the temperature within the cooking chamber 1002 hasrecovered to the temperature setpoint based on data that is sensedand/or measured by the temperature sensor 8210 of the control system8200. If the control system 8200 determines at block 8410 that thetemperature within the cooking chamber 1002 has not recovered to thetemperature setpoint, the method 8400 of FIG. 84 remains at block 8410.If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 8410 that thetemperature within the cooking chamber 1002 has recovered to thetemperature setpoint, the method 8400 of FIG. 84 proceeds to block 8412.

At block 8412, the control system 8200 commands the engine 312 tooperate in a normal output mode based on the temperature setpoint (block8412). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can command the augermotor 2214 and/or the fan 2410 of the engine 312 to modify its/theiroperation(s) (e.g., from the increased output mode) to operate in anormal output mode associated with the temperature setpoint. Followingblock 8412, the method 8400 of FIG. 84 proceeds to block 8414.

At block 8414, the control system 8200 determines whether to end (e.g.,discontinue) the lid movement detection protocol (block 8414). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can detect that the lid movementdetection protocol is to be discontinued based on a user input receivedvia the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 instructing and/orcommanding the control system 8200 to terminate the lid movementdetection protocol, and/or instructing the control system 8200 toinitiate a shutdown sequence of the pellet grill 100. If the controlsystem 8200 determines at block 8414 that the lid movement detectionprotocol is not to end, the method 8400 of FIG. 84 returns to block8402. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 8414 thatthe lid movement detection protocol is to end, the method 8400 of FIG.84 ends.

The control system 8200 of FIG. 82 implements, manages, and/or controlsa flame out detection protocol and/or process in connection with theengine 312 of the pellet grill 100. The first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 is/areconfigured to detect the existence of a flame out condition (e.g., anunintended cessation of fuel combustion), as may be indicated bydetection of a continually declining temperature of the cooking chamber1002 over a period of time while the auger 2212 is actively attemptingto feed and/or supply pellet fuel to the burn pot 2216. In someexamples, the flame out condition is detected based on data that issensed, measured and/or detected by the temperature sensor 8210 of thecontrol system 8200. In response to detecting the flame out condition,the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 command(s) the ignitor 2406 of the engine 312 toactivate and/or fire, thereby causing the pellet fuel present in theburn pot 2216 to resume combustion and/or burning.

In some examples, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 generate(s) (e.g., in the form ofa command, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100 in connection with detecting the flame out condition. Thenotification(s) and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example, that a flameout condition has been detected, that the flame out condition has beenremedied successfully, and/or that the flame out condition has not beenremedied successfully. The first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can additionally oralternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to bewirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill 100 to a remote device(e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, apersonal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

FIG. 85 is a flowchart representing an example method 8500 forimplementing a flame out detection protocol and/or process via thecontrol system 8200 of FIG. 82. The method 8500 of FIG. 85 begins withthe control system 8200 determining whether a flame out condition of theengine 312 of the pellet grill 100 has been detected (block 8502). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can determine that a flame out condition(e.g., a unintended cessation of fuel combustion) has occurred, as maybe indicated by a continually declining temperature of the cookingchamber 1002 over a period of time while the auger 2212 of the engine312 is actively attempting to feed and/or supply pellet fuel to the burnpot 2216 of the engine 312. In some examples, the flame out condition isdetected based on data that is sensed, measured and/or detected by thetemperature sensor 8210 of the control system 8200. If the controlsystem 8200 determines at block 8502 that a flame out condition of theengine 312 has not been detected, the method 8500 of FIG. 85 remains atblock 8502. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 8502that a flame out condition of the engine 312 has been detected, themethod 8500 of FIG. 85 proceeds to block 8504.

At block 8504, the control system 8200 commands the auger motor 2214 ofthe engine 312 to rotate the auger 2212 of the engine 312 to add pelletfuel to the burn pot 2216 of the engine 312 (block 8504). For example,the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 can command the auger motor 2214 of the engine 312to rotate the auger 2212 of the engine 312 to add pellet fuel to theburn pot 2216 of the engine 312. Following block 8504, the method 8500of FIG. 85 proceeds to block 8506.

At block 8506, the control system 8200 commands the ignitor 2406 of theengine 312 to activate and/or fire (block 8506). For example, the firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the controlsystem 8200 can command the ignitor 2406 of the engine 312 to activateand/or fire. Following block 8506, the method 8500 of FIG. 85 proceedsto block 8508.

At block 8508, the control system 8200 determines whether thetemperature within the cooking chamber 1002 is increasing (block 8508).For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 can determine that the temperaturewithin the cooking chamber 1002 is increasing based on data that issensed and/or measured by the temperature sensor 8210 of the controlsystem 8200. If the control system 8200 determines at block 8508 thatthe temperature within the cooking chamber 1002 is increasing, themethod 8500 of FIG. 85 proceeds to block 8510. If the control system8200 instead determines at block 8508 that the temperature within thecooking chamber 1002 is not increasing, the method 8500 of FIG. 85proceeds to block 8514.

At block 8510, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with detecting that the flameout condition has been remedied (block 8510). For example, the firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the controlsystem 8200 can generate one or more notification(s) and/or alert(s)indicating that a flame out condition was detected and successfullyremedied. Following block 8510, the method 8500 of FIG. 85 proceeds toblock 8512.

At block 8512, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 8510) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 8512). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 8512, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 8510) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 8512). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 8512, themethod 8500 of FIG. 85 proceeds to block 8518.

At block 8514, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with detecting the flame outcondition has not been remedied (block 8514). For example, the firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the controlsystem 8200 can generate one or more notification(s) and/or alert(s)indicating that a flame out condition was detected and not successfullyremedied. Following block 8514, the method 8500 of FIG. 85 proceeds toblock 8516.

At block 8516, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 8514) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 8516). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 8516, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 8514) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 8516). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 8516, themethod 8500 of FIG. 85 proceeds to block 8518.

At block 8518, the control system 8200 determines whether to end (e.g.,discontinue) the flame out detection protocol (block 8518). For example,the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 can detect that the flame out detection protocol isto be discontinued based on a user input received via the user interface138 of the pellet grill 100 instructing and/or commanding the controlsystem 8200 to terminate the flame out detection protocol, and/orinstructing the control system 8200 to initiate a shutdown sequence ofthe pellet grill 100. If the control system 8200 determines at block8518 that the flame out detection protocol is not to end, the method8500 of FIG. 85 returns to block 8502. If the control system 8200instead determines at block 8518 that the flame out detection protocolis not to end, the method 8500 of FIG. 85 ends.

The control system 8200 of FIG. 82 implements, manages, and/or controlsa low fuel detection protocol and/or process in connection with thehopper 132 of the pellet grill 100. The first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 is/areconfigured to detect that the volume and/or level of pellet fuelremaining in the hopper 132 has fallen below a threshold. In someexamples, the volume and/or level of pellet fuel remaining in the hopperis detected based on data that is sensed and/or measured by the fuellevel sensor 8214 of the control system 8200. In response to detectingthe low fuel condition, the first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 command(s) the auger motor2214 and/or, more generally, the engine 312 of the pellet grill 100 tooperate in a reduced output mode that decreases (e.g., minimizes) theheat output of the engine 312 and/or decreases (e.g., minimizes) therate at which pellet fuel is consumed, thereby prolonging the relativeamount of time before the hopper 132 will run out of pellet fuel.

In some examples, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 generate(s) (e.g., in the form ofa command, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100 in connection with detecting the low fuel condition. Thenotification(s) and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example, that a lowfuel condition has been detected, that the low fuel condition has beenremedied successfully, and/or that the low fuel condition has not beenremedied successfully. The first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can additionally oralternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to bewirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill 100 to a remote device(e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, apersonal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

FIG. 86 is a flowchart representing an example method 8600 forimplementing a low fuel detection protocol and/or process via thecontrol system 8200 of FIG. 82. The method 8600 of FIG. 86 begins withthe control system 8200 determining whether a low fuel conditionassociated with a level and/or volume of pellet fuel in a hopper 132 ofthe pellet grill 100 has been detected (block 8602). For example, thefirst control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 can determine that the level and/or volume of pelletfuel remaining in the hopper 132 has fallen below a threshold. In someexamples, the low fuel condition can be detected based on data that issensed and/or measured by the fuel level sensor 8214 of the controlsystem 8200. If the control system 8200 determines at block 8602 that alow fuel condition has not been detected, the method 8600 of FIG. 86remains at block 8602. If the control system 8200 instead determines atblock 8602 that a low fuel condition has been detected, the method 8600of FIG. 86 proceeds to block 8604.

At block 8604, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with detecting the low fuelcondition (block 8604). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can generateone or more notification(s) and/or alert(s) indicating that a low fuelcondition was detected. Following block 8604, the method 8600 of FIG. 86proceeds to block 8606.

At block 8606, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 8604) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 8606). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 8606, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 8604) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 8606). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 8606, themethod 8600 of FIG. 86 proceeds to block 8608.

At block 8608, the control system 8200 initiates a timer associated withdetecting the low fuel condition (block 8608). For example, the firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the controlsystem 8200 can initiate a timer that calculates a length of time whichhas passed since the low fuel condition was detected. Following block8608, the method 8600 of FIG. 86 proceeds to block 8610.

At block 8610, the control system determines whether the timer hasexpired (8610). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can determine thatthe duration of time measured, sensed and/or detected by the timerexceeds a threshold. If the control system 8200 determines at block 8610that the timer has not expired, the method 8600 of FIG. 86 remains atblock 8610. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 8610that the timer has expired, the method 8600 of FIG. 86 proceeds to block8612.

At block 8612, the control system 8200 commands the engine 312 of thepellet grill 100 to operate in a reduced output mode that decreases(e.g., minimizes) the heat output of the engine 312 and/or decreases(e.g., minimizes) the rate at which pellet fuel is consumed (block8612). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can command the augermotor 2214 and/or the fan 2410 of the engine 312 to modify its/theiroperation(s) to operate in a reduced output mode that decreases (e.g.,minimizes) the heat output of the engine 312 and/or decreases (e.g.,minimizes) the rate at which pellet fuel is consumed, thereby prolongingthe relative amount of time before the hopper 132 will run out of pelletfuel. Following block 8612, the method 8600 of FIG. 86 proceeds to block8614.

At block 8614, the control system 8200 determines whether the low fuelcondition associated with the level and/or volume of pellet fuel in ahopper 132 of the pellet grill 100 has been remedied (block 8614). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can determine that the level and/orvolume of pellet fuel remaining in the hopper 132 has risen above thethreshold, as may occur in response to an addition of pellet fuel to thehopper 132. In some examples, a remedy of the low fuel condition can bedetected based on data that is sensed and/or measured by the fuel levelsensor 8214 of the control system 8200. If the control system 8200determines at block 8614 that the low fuel condition has not beenremedied, the method 8600 of FIG. 86 remains at block 8614. If thecontrol system 8200 instead determines at block 8614 that the low fuelcondition has been remedied, the method 8600 of FIG. 86 proceeds toblock 8616.

At block 8616, the control system 8200 commands the engine 312 tooperate in a normal output mode based on a temperature setpoint (block8616). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can command the augermotor 2214 and/or the fan 2410 of the engine 312 to modify its/theiroperation(s) (e.g., from the reduced output mode) to operate in a normaloutput mode associated with the temperature setpoint. Following block8616, the method 8600 of FIG. 86 proceeds to block 8618.

At block 8618, the control system 8200 determines whether to end (e.g.,discontinue) the low fuel detection protocol (block 8618). For example,the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 can detect that the low fuel detection protocol isto be discontinued based on a user input received via the user interface138 of the pellet grill 100 instructing and/or commanding the controlsystem 8200 to terminate the low fuel detection protocol, and/orinstructing the control system 8200 to initiate a shutdown sequence ofthe pellet grill 100. If the control system 8200 determines at block8618 that the low fuel detection protocol is not to end, the method 8600of FIG. 86 returns to block 8602. If the control system 8200 insteaddetermines at block 8618 that the low fuel detection protocol is to end,the method 8600 of FIG. 86 ends.

The control system 8200 of FIG. 82 implements, manages, and/or controlsan end-of-cook detection protocol and/or process in connection with theengine 312 of the pellet grill 100. The first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 is/areconfigured to detect that a cooking operation associated with the pelletgrill is complete (e.g., that an “end-of-cook” condition has occurred),as may be indicated by the temperature of an item of food being cookedon the pellet grill 100 reaching a temperature setpoint for the item offood. In some examples, the end-of-cook condition is detected based ondata that is sensed and/or measured by the food probe 8216 of thecontrol system 8200. In response to detecting the end-of-cook condition,the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 command(s) the auger motor 2214 and/or, moregenerally, the engine 312 of the pellet grill 100 to operate in areduced output mode that decreases (e.g., minimizes) the heat output ofthe engine 312 until a lid opening movement associated with the lid 110of the pellet grill 100 has been detected, and/or until an input hasbeen received via the user interface 138 of the control system 8200indicating whether the cooking operation associated with the item offood is to continue and/or whether a shutdown sequence of the pelletgrill is to be initiated.

In some examples, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 generate(s) (e.g., in the form ofa command, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100 in connection with detecting the end-of-cook condition. Thenotification(s) and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example, that anend-of cook condition has been detected, that a user input via the userinterface 138 of the control system 8200 is requested, and/or that therequested user input has been received via the user interface 138 of thecontrol system 8200. The first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can additionally oralternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to bewirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill 100 to a remote device(e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, apersonal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

FIGS. 87A and 87B are a flowchart representing an example method 8700for implementing an end-of-cook detection protocol and/or process viathe control system 8200 of FIG. 82. The method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87Bbegins with the control system 8200 determining whether an end-of-cookcondition associated with food being cooked on the pellet grill 100 hasbeen detected (block 8702). For example, the first control board 8204and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 candetermine that an end-of-cook condition has been detected, as may beindicated by the temperature of an item of food being cooked on thepellet grill 100 reaching a temperature setpoint for the item of food.In some examples, the end-of-cook condition is detected based on datathat is sensed and/or measured by the food probe 8216 of the controlsystem 8200. If the control system 8200 determines at block 8702 that anend-of-cook condition has not been detected, the method 8700 of FIGS.87A and 87B remains at block 8702. If the control system 8200 insteaddetermines at block 8702 that an end-of-cook condition has beendetected, the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B proceeds to block 8704.

At block 8704, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with detecting theend-of-cook condition (block 8704). For example, the first control board8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 cangenerate one or more notification(s) and/or alert(s) indicating that anend-of-cook condition was detected. Following block 8704, the method8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B proceeds to block 8706.

At block 8706, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 8704) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 8706). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 8706, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 8704) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 8706). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 8706, themethod 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B proceeds to block 8708.

At block 8708, the control system 8200 initiates a timer associated withdetecting the end-of-cook condition (block 8708). For example, the firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the controlsystem 8200 can initiate a timer that calculates a length of time whichhas passed since the end-of-cook condition was detected. Following block8708, the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B proceeds to block 8710.

At block 8710, the control system determines whether the timer hasexpired (8710). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can determine thatthe duration of time measured, sensed and/or detected by the timerexceeds a threshold. If the control system 8200 determines at block 8710that the timer has not expired, the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87Bremains at block 8710. If the control system 8200 instead determines atblock 8710 that the timer has expired, the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and87B proceeds to block 8712.

At block 8712, the control system 8200 commands the engine 312 of thepellet grill 100 to operate in a reduced output mode that decreases(e.g., minimizes) the heat output of the engine 312 and/or decreases(e.g., minimizes) the rate at which pellet fuel is consumed (block8712). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can command the augermotor 2214 and/or the fan 2410 of the engine 312 to modify its/theiroperation(s) to operate in a reduced output mode that decreases (e.g.,minimizes) the heat output of the engine 312 and/or decreases (e.g.,minimizes) the rate at which pellet fuel is consumed, thereby reducingthe likelihood of the item of food associated with the end-of-cookbecoming overcooked. Following block 8712, the method 8700 of FIGS. 87Aand 87B proceeds to block 8714.

At block 8714, the control system determines whether a lid openingmovement of the lid 110 of the pellet grill 100 has been detected (block8714). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can determine that the lid110 has been moved from a closed position to an open position, as may beindicated by detection of a rapid decline of the cooking chamber 1002temperature relative to a temperature setpoint associated with thecooking chamber 1002. In some examples, the lid opening movement can bedetected based on data that is sensed and/or measured by the temperaturesensor 8210 of the control system 8200. In other examples, the lidopening movement can additionally or alternatively be detected based ondata that is sensed and/or measured by the lid position sensor 8212 ofthe control system 8200. If the control system 8200 determines at block8714 that a lid opening movement of the lid 110 has not been detected,the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B remains at block 8702. If thecontrol system 8200 instead determines at block 8714 that a lid openingmovement of the lid 110 has been detected, the method 8700 of FIGS. 87Aand 87B proceeds to block 8716.

At block 8716, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with an information requestrequired in connection with the detected end-of-cook condition (block8716). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can generate one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) indicating that a user input is requiredin connection with the detected end-of-cook condition. Following block8716, the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B proceeds to block 8718.

At block 8718, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 8716) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 8718). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 8718, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 8716) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 8718). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 8718, themethod 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B proceeds to block 8720.

At block 8720, the control system 8200 determines whether a user inputhas been received in connection with the detected end-of-cook condition(block 8720). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can determine thatcontrol system 8200 has received a user input via the user interface 138of the pellet grill 100 in connection with the detected end-of-cookcondition. If the control system 8200 determines at block 8720 that auser input has not been received in connection with the detectedend-of-cook condition, the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B remains atblock 8720. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 8720that a user input has been received in connection with the detectedend-of-cook condition, the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B proceeds toblock 8722.

At block 8722, the control system 8200 determines whether the receiveduser input indicates that a further cooking operation is to occur (block8722). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can determine that thereceived user input indicates that the item of food should continuebeing cooked (e.g., for a longer time and/or to a higher temperature).If the control system 8200 determines at block 8722 that the user inputindicates that a further cooking operation is to occur, the method 8700of FIGS. 87A and 87B proceeds to block 8724. If the control system 8200instead determines at block 8724 that the user input indicates that afurther cooking operation is not to occur (e.g., that the cookingoperation is complete), the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B proceeds toblock 8726.

At block 8724, the control system 8200 commands the engine 312 tooperate in a normal output mode based on a temperature setpoint (block8724). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can command the augermotor 2214 and/or the fan 2410 of the engine 312 to modify its/theiroperation(s) (e.g., from the reduced output mode) to operate in a normaloutput mode associated with the temperature setpoint. Following block8724, the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B proceeds to block 8728.

At block 8726, the control system 8200 initiates a shutdown protocol forthe pellet grill 100 (block 8726). For example, the first control board8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 cancommand the engine 312 and/or the control system 8200 of the pelletgrill 100 to initiate a shutdown protocol. An example shutdown protocolthat can be performed at block 8726 of the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and87B is further described below in connection with FIG. 88. Followingblock 8726, the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B proceeds to block 8728.

At block 8728, the control system 8200 determines whether to end (e.g.,discontinue) the end-of-cook detection protocol (block 8728). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can detect that the end-of-cookdetection protocol is to be discontinued based on a user input receivedvia the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 instructing and/orcommanding the control system 8200 to terminate the end-of-cookdetection protocol, and/or instructing the control system 8200 toinitiate a shutdown sequence of the pellet grill 100. If the controlsystem 8200 determines at block 8728 that the end-of-cook detectionprotocol is not to end, the method 8700 of FIGS. 87A and 87B returns toblock 8702. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 8728that the end-of-cook detection protocol is to end, the method 8700 ofFIGS. 87A and 87B ends.

The control system 8200 of FIG. 82 implements, manages, and/or controlsa shutdown protocol and/or process in connection with the engine 312 ofthe pellet grill 100. The first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 is/are configured todetect that a shutdown sequence has been initiated. In some examples,the initiation of the shutdown sequence is detected based on an inputreceived from the user interface 138 of the control system 8200. Inresponse to detecting the initiation of the shutdown sequence, the firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the controlsystem 8200 command(s) the auger motor 2214 of the engine 312 to reversethe direction of rotation of the auger 2212 (e.g., from a clockwiserotation to a counterclockwise rotation, or vice-versa) toadvantageously facilitate purging pellet fuel away from the burn pot2216 of the engine 312, and back toward the hopper 132 of the pelletgrill 100.

In some examples, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 generate(s) (e.g., in the form ofa command, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100 in connection with detecting the initiation of the shutdownsequence. The notification(s) and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example,that initiation of the shutdown sequence has been detected, and/or thatthe shutdown sequence has been completed. The first control board 8204and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 canadditionally or alternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be wirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon.

FIG. 88 is a flowchart representing an example method 8800 forimplementing a shutdown protocol and/or process via the control system8200 of FIG. 82. The method 8800 of FIG. 88 begins with the controlsystem 8200 determining whether a shutdown sequence associated with thepellet grill 100 has been initiated (block 8802). For example, the firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the controlsystem 8200 can determine that a shutdown sequence has been initiatedbased on a user input received via the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100 instructing and/or commanding the control system 8200 toinitiate the shutdown sequence. If the control system 8200 determines atblock 8802 that a shutdown sequence has not been initiated, the method8800 of FIG. 88 remains at block 8802. If the control system 8200instead determines at block 8802 that a shutdown sequence has beeninitiated, the method 8800 of FIG. 88 proceeds to block 8804.

At block 8804, the control system 8200 commands the auger motor 2214 ofthe engine 312 to purge pellet fuel away from the burn pot 2216 of theengine 312 (block 8804). For example, the first control board 8204and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 cancommand the auger motor 2214 of the engine 312 to reverse the directionof rotation of the auger 2212 (e.g., from a clockwise rotation to acounterclockwise rotation, or vice-versa) to facilitate purging pelletfuel away from the burn pot 2216 of the engine 312, and back toward thehopper 132 of the pellet grill 100. Following block 8804, the method8800 of FIG. 88 proceeds to block 8806.

At block 8806, the control system 8200 commands the fan 2410 of theengine 312 to operate in an increased output mode that facilitatesburning pellet fuel remaining in the burn pot 2216 of the engine 312 asquickly as the engine 312 is capable of (block 8806). For example, thefirst control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 can command the fan 2410 of the engine 312 to modifyits operation (e.g., from a normal output mode) to operate in anincreased output mode that increases (e.g., maximizes) the airflow ofthe fan 2410. Following block 8806, the method 8800 of FIG. 88 proceedsto block 8808.

At block 8808, the control system 8200 commands the fan 2410 of theengine 312 to operate in a pulsed output mode that facilitates removingash from the burn pot 2216 of the engine 312 (block 8808). For example,the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 can command the fan 2410 of the engine 312 to modifyits operation (e.g., from the increased output mode) to operate in apulsed output mode that pulses the airflow of the fan 2410. Followingblock 8808, the method 8800 of FIG. 88 proceeds to block 8810.

At block 8810, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with the shutdown sequence(block 8810). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can generate one ormore notification(s) and/or alert(s) indicating that the shutdownsequence is complete. Following block 8810, the method 8800 of FIG. 88proceeds to block 8812.

At block 8812, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 8810) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 8812). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 8812, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 8810) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 8812). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 8812, themethod 8800 of FIG. 88 ends.

The control system 8200 of FIG. 82 implements, manages, and/or controlsan improper shutdown detection protocol and/or process in connectionwith the engine 312 of the pellet grill 100. The first control board8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200is/are configured to detect that the engine 312 and/or, more generally,the pellet grill 100 has been improperly shutdown (e.g., that animproper shutdown condition has occurred), as may be indicated by anunexpected loss of power resulting from a power outage associated withthe AC line power source 8222, or resulting from a hard kill of thecontrol system 8200 prior to completion of a shutdown sequence. Inresponse to the control system 8200 and/or, more generally, the pelletgrill 100 being powered on following detection of the improper shutdowncondition, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 command(s) the engine 312 of the pelletgrill 100 to initiate a diagnostic check sequence and/or a startupsequence.

In some examples, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 generate(s) (e.g., in the form ofa command, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100 in connection with detecting the improper shutdown condition.The notification(s) and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example, that animproper shutdown condition has been detected, that a diagnostic checkhas been initiated and/or completed, that a startup sequence has beeninitiated and/or completed, and/or that a startup sequence cannot beinitiated and/or completed. The first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can additionally oralternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to bewirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill 100 to a remote device(e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, apersonal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

FIG. 89 is a flowchart representing an example method 8900 forimplementing a first improper shutdown detection protocol and/or processvia the control system 8200 of FIG. 82. The method 8900 of FIG. 89begins with the control system 8200 determining whether an impropershutdown of the pellet grill 100 has been detected (block 8902). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can determine that the engine 312and/or, more generally, the pellet grill 100 has been improperlyshutdown (e.g., that an improper shutdown condition has occurred), asmay be indicated by an unexpected loss of power resulting from a poweroutage associated with the AC line power source 8222 prior to completionof a shutdown sequence. If the control system 8200 determines at block8902 that an improper shutdown of the pellet grill 100 has not beendetected, the method 8900 of FIG. 89 remains at block 8902. If thecontrol system 8200 instead determines at block 8902 that an impropershutdown of the pellet grill 100 has been detected, the method 8900 ofFIG. 89 proceeds to block 8904.

At block 8904, the control system 8200 detects that the pellet grill 100has regained power (block 8904). For example, the first control board8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 candetect that the control system 8200 and/or, more generally, the pelletgrill 100 has regained power, as may be indicated by power being onceagain supplied by the AC line power source 8222. Following block 8904,the method 8900 of FIG. 89 proceeds to block 8906.

At block 8906, the control system 8200 determines whether a temperaturewithin the cooking chamber 1002 of the pellet grill 100 is below athreshold (block 8906). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can determinethat the temperature within the cooking chamber 1002 is below athreshold based on data that is sensed and/or measured by thetemperature sensor 8210 of the control system 8200. If the controlsystem 8200 determines at block 8906 that the temperature within thecooking chamber 1002 is not below the threshold, the method 8900 of FIG.89 proceeds to block 8908. If the control system 8200 instead determinesat block 8906 that the temperature within the cooking chamber 1002 isbelow the threshold, the method 8900 of FIG. 89 proceeds to block 8912.

At block 8908, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with being unable to initiatea startup sequence following detection of the improper shutdowncondition (block 8908). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can generateone or more notification(s) and/or alert(s) indicating that the impropershutdown condition has been detected, and that the control system 8200was unable to initiate a startup sequence of the engine 312 and/or, moregenerally of the pellet grill 100. Following block 8908, the method 8900of FIG. 89 proceeds to block 8910.

At block 8910, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 8908) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 8910). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 8910, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 8908) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 8910). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 8910, themethod 8900 of FIG. 89 returns to block 8906.

At block 8912, the control system 8200 initiates a startup sequence ofthe pellet grill 100 (block 8912). For example, the first control board8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 cancause the engine 312 and/or, more generally, the pellet grill 100 toinitiate a startup sequence. Following block 8912, the method 8900 ofFIG. 89 proceeds to block 8914.

At block 8914, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with being able to initiate astartup sequence following detection of the improper shutdown condition(block 8914). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can generate one ormore notification(s) and/or alert(s) indicating that the impropershutdown condition has been detected, and that the control system 8200was able to initiate a startup sequence of the engine 312 and/or, moregenerally of the pellet grill 100. Following block 8914, the method 8900of FIG. 89 proceeds to block 8916.

At block 8916, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 8914) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 8916). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 8916, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 8914) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 8916). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 8916, themethod 8900 of FIG. 89 proceeds to block proceeds to block 8918.

At block 8918, the control system 8200 determines whether to end (e.g.,discontinue) the improper shutdown detection protocol (block 8918). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can detect that the improper shutdowndetection protocol is to be discontinued based on a user input receivedvia the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 instructing and/orcommanding the control system 8200 to terminate the improper shutdowndetection protocol, and/or instructing the control system 8200 toinitiate a shutdown sequence of the pellet grill 100. If the controlsystem 8200 determines at block 8918 that the improper shutdowndetection protocol is not to end, the method 8900 of FIG. 89 returns toblock 8902. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 8918that the improper shutdown detection protocol is to end, the method 8900of FIG. 89 ends.

FIG. 90 is a flowchart representing an example method 9000 forimplementing a second improper shutdown detection protocol and/orprocess via the control system 8200 of FIG. 82. The method 9000 of FIG.90 begins with the control system 8200 determining whether an impropershutdown of the pellet grill 100 has been detected (block 9002). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can determine that the engine 312and/or, more generally, the pellet grill 100 has been improperlyshutdown (e.g., that an improper shutdown condition has occurred), asmay be indicated by an unexpected loss of power resulting from a hardkill of the control system 8200 prior to completion of a shutdownsequence. If the control system 8200 determines at block 9002 that animproper shutdown of the pellet grill 100 has not been detected, themethod 9000 of FIG. 90 remains at block 9002. If the control system 8200instead determines at block 9002 that an improper shutdown of the pelletgrill 100 has been detected, the method 9000 of FIG. 90 proceeds toblock 9004.

At block 9004, the control system 8200 detects that the pellet grill 100has regained power (block 9004). For example, the first control board8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 candetect that the control system 8200 and/or, more generally, the pelletgrill 100 has regained power, as may be indicated by power beingsupplied by the AC line power source 8222. Following block 9004, themethod 9000 of FIG. 90 proceeds to block 9006.

At block 9006, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with detecting the impropershutdown condition (block 9006). For example, the first control board8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 cangenerate one or more notification(s) and/or alert(s) indicating that theimproper shutdown condition has been detected. Following block 9006, themethod 9000 of FIG. 90 proceeds to block 9008.

At block 9008, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 9006) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 9008). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 9008, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 9006) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 9008). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 9008, themethod 9000 of FIG. 90 proceeds to block 9010.

At block 9010, the control system 8200 initiates a diagnostic checksequence (block 9010). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause oneor more components of the control system 8200 to perform one or morediagnostic check(s). Following block 9010, the method 9000 of FIG. 90proceeds to block 9012.

At block 9012, the control system 8200 commands the auger motor 2214 ofthe engine 312 of the pellet grill 100 to pulse the auger 2212 of theengine 312 (block 9012). For example, the first control board 8204and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 cancommand the auger motor 2214 to frequently reverse the existingdirection of rotation of the auger 2212 in a manner that results in therotation of the auger 2212 being repeatedly pulsed between a firstdirection of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite thefirst direction of rotation. Following block 9012, the method 9000 ofFIG. 90 proceeds to block 9014.

At block 9014, the control system 8200 determines whether a jam of theauger 2212 of the engine 312 of the pellet grill 100 has been detected(block 9014). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can determine thatthe auger 2212 is jammed based on an increased torque demand associatedwith the auger motor 2214 of the engine 312 that is measured, sensedand/or detected by the first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200. If the control system8200 determines at block 9014 that a jam of the auger 2212 has beendetected, the method 9000 of FIG. 90 proceeds to block 9016. If thecontrol system 8200 instead determines at block 9014 that a jam of theauger 2212 has not been detected, the method 9000 of FIG. 90 proceeds toblock 9018.

At block 9016, the control system 8200 performs an auger jam detectionprotocol (block 9016). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can command thecontrol system 8200 to perform the auger jam detection protocoldescribed above in connection with FIG. 83. Following block 9016, themethod 9000 of FIG. 90 proceeds to block 9018.

At block 9018, the control system 8200 commands the fan 2410 of theengine 312 to operate in a pulsed output mode that facilitates removingash from the burn pot 2216 of the engine 312 (block 9018). For example,the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 can command the fan 2410 of the engine 312 to modifyits operation to operate in a pulsed output mode that pulses the airflowof the fan 2410. Following block 9018, the method 9000 of FIG. 90proceeds to block 9020.

At block 9020, the control system 8200 initiates a startup sequence ofthe pellet grill 100 (block 9020). For example, the first control board8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 cancause the engine 312 and/or, more generally, the pellet grill 100 toinitiate a startup sequence. Following block 9020, the method 9000 ofFIG. 90 proceeds to block 9022.

At block 9022, the control system 8200 determines whether to end (e.g.,discontinue) the improper shutdown detection protocol (block 9022). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can detect that the improper shutdowndetection protocol is to be discontinued based on a user input receivedvia the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 instructing and/orcommanding the control system 8200 to terminate the improper shutdowndetection protocol, and/or instructing the control system 8200 toinitiate a shutdown sequence of the pellet grill 100. If the controlsystem 8200 determines at block 9022 that the improper shutdowndetection protocol is not to end, the method 9000 of FIG. 90 returns toblock 9002. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 9022that the improper shutdown detection protocol is to end, the method 9000of FIG. 90 ends.

The control system 8200 of FIG. 82 implements, manages, and/or controlsan ignitor duty cycle detection protocol and/or process in connectionwith the ignitor 2406 of the pellet grill 100.

The first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 is/are configured to detect that the duty cycle ofthe ignitor 2406 (e.g., a consumed number or a remaining number ofactivations and/or firings of the ignitor 2406) has violated a threshold(e.g., exceeded a maximum consumed life threshold, or fallen below aminimum remaining life threshold). In some examples, the duty cycle ofthe ignitor 2406 is detected based on ignitor use data that is sensed,measured and/or detected by the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200. In some examples,the threshold is a maximum consumed life threshold for the ignitor 2406.In other examples, the threshold is a minimum remaining life thresholdfor the ignitor 2406.

In some examples, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 generate(s) (e.g., in the form ofa command, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100 in connection with detecting that the duty cycle of theignitor 2406 has violated the threshold. The notification(s) and/oralert(s) may indicate, for example, that the duty cycle of the ignitor2406 has violated the threshold, and/or that the duty cycle of theignitor 2406 has been reset. The first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can additionally oralternatively cause the generated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to bewirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill 100 to a remote device(e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, apersonal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysis thereon.

FIG. 91 is a flowchart representing an example method 9100 forimplementing an ignitor duty cycle detection protocol and/or process viathe control system 8200 of FIG. 82. The method 9100 of FIG. 91 beginswith the control system 8200 determining whether a duty cycle of theignitor 2406 of the pellet grill 100 has violated a threshold (block9102). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the secondcontrol board 8206 of the control system 8200 can implement a duty cyclecounter configured to count a consumed number or a remaining number ofactivations and/or firings of the ignitor 2406. Based on the countmaintained by the duty cycle counter, the first control board 8204and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 candetect whether the duty cycle of the ignitor 2406 has violated athreshold (e.g., exceeded a maximum consumed life threshold, or fallenbelow a minimum remaining life threshold). If the control system 8200determines at block 9102 that the duty cycle of the ignitor 2406 has notviolated the threshold, the method 9100 of FIG. 91 remains at block9102. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 9102 thatthe duty cycle of the ignitor 2406 has violated the threshold, themethod 9100 of FIG. 91 proceeds to block 9104.

At block 9104, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with detecting that the dutycycle of the ignitor 2406 has violated the threshold (block 9104). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can generate one or more notification(s)and/or alert(s) indicating that the duty cycle of the ignitor 2406 hasviolated the threshold, and/or requesting user input to reset the dutycycle of the ignitor 2406. Following block 9104, the method 9100 of FIG.91 proceeds to block 9106.

At block 9106, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 9104) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 9106). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 9106, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 9104) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 9106). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 9106, themethod 9100 of FIG. 91 proceeds to block 9108.

At block 9108, the control system 8200 determines whether the duty cycleof the ignitor 2406 of the pellet grill 100 has been reset (block 9108).For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 can detect that the duty cycle ofthe ignitor 2406 has been reset based on a user input received via theuser interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 instructing and/or commandingthe control system 8200 to reset the duty cycle counter. If the controlsystem 8200 determines at block 9108 that the duty cycle of the ignitor2406 has not been reset, the method 9100 of FIG. 91 returns to block9102. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 9108 thatthe duty cycle of the ignitor 2406 has been reset, the method 9100 ofFIG. 91 proceeds to block 9110.

At block 9110, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with detecting that the dutycycle of the ignitor 2406 has been reset (block 9110). For example, thefirst control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200 can generate one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) indicating that the duty cycle of the ignitor 2406 has beenreset. Following block 9110, the method 9100 of FIG. 91 proceeds toblock 9112.

At block 9112, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 9110) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 9112). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 9112, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 9110) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 9112). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 9112, themethod 9100 of FIG. 91 proceeds to block 9114.

At block 9114, the control system 8200 determines whether to end (e.g.,discontinue) the ignitor duty cycle detection protocol (block 9114). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can detect that the ignitor duty cycledetection protocol is to be discontinued based on a user input receivedvia the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 instructing and/orcommanding the control system 8200 to terminate the ignitor duty cycledetection protocol, and/or instructing the control system 8200 toinitiate a shutdown sequence of the pellet grill 100. If the controlsystem 8200 determines at block 9114 that the ignitor duty cycledetection protocol is not to end, the method 9100 of FIG. 91 returns toblock 9102. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 9114that the ignitor duty cycle detection protocol is to end, the method9100 of FIG. 91 ends.

The control system 8200 of FIG. 82 implements, manages, and/or controlsa waste collection drawer duty cycle detection protocol and/or processin connection with the waste collection drawer 134 of the pellet grill100. The first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206of the control system 8200 is/are configured to detect that the dutycycle of the waste collection drawer 134 (e.g., a consumed period oftime and/or number of cooks since one or more bin(s) of the wastecollection drawer 134 was/were last emptied, or a remaining period oftime and/or number of cooks until one or more bin(s) of the wastecollection drawer 134 is/are next due to be emptied) has violated athreshold (e.g., exceeded a maximum consumed use threshold, or fallenbelow a minimum remaining use threshold). In some examples, the dutycycle of the waste collection drawer 134 is detected based on wastecollection drawer use data that is sensed, measured and/or detected bythe first control board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of thecontrol system 8200. In some examples, the threshold is a maximumconsumed use threshold for one or more bin(s) of the waste collectiondrawer 134. In other examples, the threshold is a minimum remaining usethreshold for one or more bin(s) of the waste collection drawer 134.

In some examples, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 generate(s) (e.g., in the form ofa command, message, signal, etc.) one or more notification(s) and/oralert(s) to be presented locally on the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100 in connection with detecting that the duty cycle of the wastecollection drawer 134 has violated the threshold. The notification(s)and/or alert(s) may indicate, for example, that the duty cycle of thewaste collection drawer 134 has violated the threshold, and/or that theduty cycle of the waste collection drawer 134 has been reset. The firstcontrol board 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the controlsystem 8200 can additionally or alternatively cause the generatednotification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmitted from thepellet grill 100 to a remote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone,a tablet, a laptop computer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentationand/or analysis thereon.

FIG. 92 is a flowchart representing an example method 9200 forimplementing a waste collection drawer duty cycle detection protocoland/or process via the control system 8200 of FIG. 82. The method 9200of FIG. 92 begins with the control system 8200 determining whether aduty cycle of the waste collection drawer 134 of the pellet grill 100has violated a threshold (block 9202). For example, the first controlboard 8204 and/or the second control board 8206 of the control system8200 can implement a duty cycle counter configured to count a consumednumber of cooks since one or more bin(s) of the waste collection drawer134 was/were last emptied, or a remaining number of cooks until one ormore bin(s) of the waste collection drawer 134 is/are next due to beemptied. As another example, the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can implement aduty cycle timer configured to count a consumed period of time since oneor more bin(s) of the waste collection drawer 134 was/were last emptied,or a remaining period of time until one or more bin(s) of the wastecollection drawer 134 is/are next due to be emptied Based on the countmaintained by the duty cycle counter or the time maintained by the dutycycle timer, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 can detect whether the duty cycleof the waste collection drawer 134 has violated a threshold (e.g.,exceeded a maximum consumed use threshold, or fallen below a minimumremaining use threshold). If the control system 8200 determines at block9202 that the duty cycle of the waste collection drawer 134 has notviolated the threshold, the method 9200 of FIG. 92 remains at block9202. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 9202 thatthe duty cycle of the waste collection drawer 134 has violated thethreshold, the method 9200 of FIG. 92 proceeds to block 9204.

At block 9204, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with detecting that the dutycycle of the waste collection drawer 134 has violated the threshold(block 9204). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can generate one ormore notification(s) and/or alert(s) indicating that the duty cycle ofthe waste collection drawer 134 has violated the threshold, and/orrequesting user input to reset the duty cycle of the waste collectiondrawer 134. Following block 9204, the method 9200 of FIG. 92 proceeds toblock 9206.

At block 9206, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 9204) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 9206). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 9206, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 9204) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 9206). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 9206, themethod 9200 of FIG. 92 proceeds to block 9208.

At block 9208, the control system 8200 determines whether the duty cycleof the waste collection drawer 134 of the pellet grill 100 has beenreset (block 9208). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can detect that theduty cycle of the waste collection drawer 134 has been reset based on auser input received via the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100instructing and/or commanding the control system 8200 to reset the dutycycle counter or the duty cycle timer. If the control system 8200determines at block 9208 that the duty cycle of the waste collectiondrawer 134 has not been reset, the method 9200 of FIG. 92 returns toblock 9202. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 9208that the duty cycle of the waste collection drawer 134 has been reset,the method 9200 of FIG. 92 proceeds to block 9210.

At block 9210, the control system 8200 generates one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) associated with detecting that the dutycycle of the waste collection drawer 134 has been reset (block 9210).For example, the first control board 8204 and/or the second controlboard 8206 of the control system 8200 can generate one or morenotification(s) and/or alert(s) indicating that the duty cycle of thewaste collection drawer 134 has been reset. Following block 9210, themethod 9200 of FIG. 92 proceeds to block 9212.

At block 9212, the control system 8200 presents the generatednotification(s) and/or alerts(s) (e.g., generated at block 9210) locallyat the user interface 138 of the pellet grill 100 (block 9212). Forexample, the first control board 8204 and/or the second control board8206 of the control system 8200 can cause the generated notification(s)and/or alert(s) to be presented at the user interface 138 of the pelletgrill 100. At block 9212, the control system can additionally oralternatively wirelessly transmit the generated notification(s) and/oralert(s) (e.g., generated at block 9210) from the pellet grill 100 to aremote device (e.g., a cloud server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, a personal computer, etc.) for presentation and/or analysisthereon (block 9212). For example, the first control board 8204 and/orthe second control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can cause thegenerated notification(s) and/or alert(s) to be wirelessly transmittedfrom the pellet grill 100 to a remote device. Following block 9212, themethod 9200 of FIG. 92 proceeds to block 9214.

At block 9214, the control system 8200 determines whether to end (e.g.,discontinue) the waste collection drawer duty cycle detection protocol(block 9214). For example, the first control board 8204 and/or thesecond control board 8206 of the control system 8200 can detect that thewaste collection drawer duty cycle detection protocol is to bediscontinued based on a user input received via the user interface 138of the pellet grill 100 instructing and/or commanding the control system8200 to terminate the waste collection drawer duty cycle detectionprotocol, and/or instructing the control system 8200 to initiate ashutdown sequence of the pellet grill 100. If the control system 8200determines at block 9214 that the waste collection drawer duty cycledetection protocol is not to end, the method 9200 of FIG. 92 returns toblock 9202. If the control system 8200 instead determines at block 9214that the waste collection drawer duty cycle detection protocol is toend, the method 9200 of FIG. 92 ends.

FIG. 93 is a first perspective view of an alternate example engine 312Aof the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13. FIG. 94 is a second perspectiveview of the engine 312A of FIG. 93. FIGS. 95A and 95B are exploded viewsof the engine 312A of FIGS. 93 and 94. FIG. 96 is a first side view ofthe engine 312A of FIGS. 93-95. FIG. 97 is a second side view of theengine 312A of FIGS. 93-96. FIG. 98 is a front view of the engine 312Aof FIGS. 93-97. FIG. 99 is a cross-sectional view of the engine 312A ofFIGS. 93-98 taken along section S-S of FIG. 98. FIG. 100 is a top viewof the engine 312A of FIGS. 93-99. FIG. 101 is a cross-sectional view ofthe engine 312A of FIGS. 93-100 taken along section T-T of FIG. 100.FIG. 102 is a cross-sectional view of the engine 312A of FIGS. 93-101taken along section U-U of FIG. 97. The engine 312A of FIGS. 93-102 canbe implemented as an alternative to the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-30described above.

The engine 312A of FIGS. 93-102 includes an example frame 9302, anexample housing 9304, an example fuel slide 9306, an example auger duct9308, an example auger 9310, an example auger motor 9312, an exampleburn pot 9314, an example ash slide 9316, an example fan 9318, anexample fan retainer 9320, an example fuel grate 9502, an exampleignitor 9504, an example ignitor carrier 9506, a first example air guide9508, a second example air guide 9510, and an example ignitor carrierguide 9512. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 93-102, the frame 9302of the engine 312A has a curved shape that complements and/or matchesthe curved shape of the outer wall 108 of the main body 102 of thepellet grill 100 proximate the first opening 310 of the outer wall 108.The frame 9302 includes a plurality of example nuts 9322 that areconfigured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to align withcorresponding ones of the through-holes formed in the outer wall 108 ofthe main body 102 of the pellet grill 100 to facilitate coupling (e.g.,via fasteners) the frame 9302 to the outer wall 108 of the main body 102of the pellet grill 100 such that portions of the engine 312A extendthrough the first opening 310 of the outer wall 108 of the main body102. For example, when the frame 9302 of FIGS. 93-102 is coupled to theouter wall 108 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100, portions ofthe housing 9304, the fuel slide 9306, the auger duct 9308, the auger9310, the burn pot 9314, the fuel grate 9502, the ignitor 9504, and theignitor carrier 9506 extend inwardly through the first opening 310 ofthe outer wall 108 and are located within the main body 102 (e.g.,within the cooking chamber 1002) of the pellet grill 100. When the frame9302 of FIGS. 93-102 is coupled to the outer wall 108 of the main body102 of the pellet grill 100, a lower portion of the frame 9302 partiallycovers the grease channels 902 formed in the outer wall 108 of the mainbody 102. Partially covering the grease channels 902 with the lowerportion of the frame 9302 advantageously prevents any flame(s) presentwithin the cooking chamber 1002 and/or the main body 102 from extendingoutside of the cooking chamber 1002 and/or the main body 102.

The housing 9304 of the engine 312A of FIGS. 93-102 extends through andis partially supported by the frame 9302 of the engine 312A. In theillustrated example of FIGS. 93-102, the housing 9304 is a rectangularbox-shaped structure that includes and/or is defined by an example frontwall 9514, an example rear wall 9516 located opposite the front wall9514, an example first (e.g., left) sidewall 9518 extending between thefront wall 9514 and the rear wall 9516, an example second (e.g., right)sidewall 9520 extending between the front wall 9514 and the rear wall9516 and located opposite the first sidewall 9518, and an example bottomwall 9522 extending between the front wall 9514 and the rear wall 9516and further extending between the first sidewall 9518 and the secondsidewall 9520. An example cover plate 9524 defines an example topsurface 9526 of the housing 9304.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 93-102, the front wall 9514 of thehousing 9304 is a closed wall. The housing 9304 further includes anexample first opening 9528, an example second opening 9530, an examplethird opening 9902, an example fourth opening 9532, first example slots9534, second example slots 9536, third example slots 10202, and fourthexample slots 10204. The first opening 9528 of the housing 9304 islocated at the top surface 9526 of the housing 9304 forward of the coverplate 9524. The second opening 9530 of the housing 9304 is located atand/or formed in the rear wall 9516 of the housing 9304 proximate thebottom wall 9522 of the housing 9304. The third opening 9902 of thehousing 9304 is located at and/or formed in the bottom wall 9522 of thehousing 9304 proximate the front wall 9514 of the housing 9304. Thefourth opening 9532 of the housing 9304 is located at and/or formed inthe bottom wall 9522 of the housing 9304 proximate the rear wall 9516 ofthe housing 9304. The first slots 9534 of the housing 9304 are formed inthe first sidewall 9518 of the housing 9304, and are configured toreceive tabs of the first air guide 9508 of the engine 312A. The secondslots 9536 of the housing 9304 are formed in the second sidewall 9520 ofthe housing 9304, and are configured to receive tabs of the second airguide 9510 of the engine 312A. The third slots 10202 of the housing 9304are formed in the bottom wall 9522 of the housing 9304, and areconfigured to receive tabs of the ash slide 9316 of the engine 312A. Thefourth slots 10204 of the housing 9304 are formed in the bottom wall9522 of the housing 9304, and are configured to receive flanges (e.g.,vertical walls) of the ignitor carrier guide 9512 of the engine 312A.

As shown in FIGS. 99, 101 and 102, the housing 9304 of the engine 312Ahouses, contains and/or carries the burn pot 9314, the fuel grate 9502,the ignitor 9504, the ignitor carrier 9506, the first air guide 9508,the second air guide 9510, and the ignitor carrier guide 9512 of theengine 312A. The burn pot 9314 (which includes the fuel grate 9502) isreceived within the housing 9304 via the first opening 9528 of thehousing 9304, and is positioned and/or located over and/or in verticalalignment with the third opening 9902 of the housing 9304. As shown inFIGS. 99, 101 and 102 and further described below, the verticalalignment of the burn pot 9314 and the fuel grate 9502 over the thirdopening 9902 of the housing 9304 advantageously enables ash (e.g., asmay be produced and/or generated during combustion and/or burning ofpellet fuel contained within the burn pot 9314) to pass and/or fallthrough the fuel grate 9502 and through the third opening 9902 of thehousing 9304 onto the ash slide 9316, and from the ash slide 9316 intoan ash collection bin of the waste collection drawer 134 that is locatedbelow the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100. The ash slide 9316 isconfigured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to guide ash downwardly(e.g., away from the burn pot 9314), and to prevent a cyclone flow ofash from migrating upwardly toward the burn pot 9314. In some examples,the ash slide 9316 preferably has a length ranging between 2.0 inchesand 10.0 inches, and is preferably angled downward from the housing 9304at an angle of 5.0 degrees or greater. When the burn pot 9314 has beenplaced within the housing 9304, an example upper plate 9324 of the burnpot 9314 covers and/or closes a portion of the first opening 9528 of thehousing 9304 forward of the cover plate 9524. The fuel slide 9306 of theengine 312A is mounted and/or coupled to the upper plate 9324 of theburn pot 9314, as further described below.

As further shown in FIGS. 99, 101 and 102, the ignitor 9504 and theignitor carrier 9506 of the engine 312A are slidingly received withinthe housing 9304 via the second opening 9530 of the housing 9304. Theignitor carrier guide 9512 assists in locating the ignitor 9504 and theignitor carrier 9506 within the housing 9304 at a central positionbetween the first sidewall 9518 and the second sidewall 9520 of thehousing 9304. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 93-102, the ignitorcarrier guide 9512 includes flanges 10206 (e.g., vertical walls) thattaper inwardly moving from the rear wall 9516 toward the front wall 9514of the housing 9304. When the ignitor 9504 and the ignitor carrier 9506have been placed within the housing 9304 (e.g., between the flanges10206 of the ignitor carrier guide 9512), an example rear tab 9538 ofthe ignitor carrier 9506 covers and/or closes the second opening 9530 ofthe housing 9304.

The fan 9318 of the engine 312A is mounted and/or coupled to the housing9304 at the bottom wall 9522 of the housing 9304 via the fan retainer9320, and is positioned and/or located below and/or in verticalalignment with the fourth opening 9532 of the housing 9304. The verticalalignment of the fan 9318 below the fourth opening 9532 of the housing9304 enables an airflow produced, generated, and/or output by the fan9318 to pass through the fourth opening 9532 into the housing 9304. Oncethe airflow has passed from the fan 9318 into the housing 9304, theairflow is subsequently directed, via the first and second air guides9508, 9510, toward and/or into the burn pot 9314. For example, as shownin FIGS. 95 and 102, each of the first and second air guides 9508, 9510has an inwardly-directed v-shaped profile that causes an airflowentering the housing 9304 from the fan 9318 to be centralized (e.g.,between the first and second air guides 9508, 9510, and/or between thefirst and second sidewalls 9518, 9520 of the housing 9304) as theairflow travels toward the burn pot 9314 located within the housing9304. Centralizing the airflow via the first and second air guides 9508,9510 produces and/or generates a Venturi effect on the airflow as theairflow travels past the first and second air guides 9508, 9510 towardthe burn pot 9314.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 93-102, the fuel slide 9306 includesan example panel 9540 having an example front end 9542, an example rearend 9544 located opposite the front end 9542, a first exampleoutwardly-extending flange 9546 extending between the front end 9542 andthe rear end 9544, and a second example outwardly-extending flange 9548extending between the front end 9542 and the rear end 9544 and locatedopposite the first outwardly-extending flange 9546. The panel 9540further includes a first example mounting tab 9550 located proximate thefront end 9542 of the panel 9540 and extending forwardly from the firstoutwardly-extending flange 9546, a second example mounting tab 9552located proximate the front end 9542 of the panel 9540 and extendingforwardly from the second outwardly-extending flange 9548, and anexample opening 9554 located proximate the rear end 9544 of the panel9540.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 93-102, each of the first and secondmounting tabs 9550, 9552 of the panel 9540 is configured (e.g., sized,shaped and/or arranged) to align and/or mate with the through-holesformed in the upper plate 9324 of the burn pot 9314 to facilitatemounting and/or coupling the fuel slide 9306 of the engine 312A to theburn pot 9314 of the engine 312A. The opening 9554 of the panel 9540 isconfigured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to slidingly receivethe auger duct 9308 to facilitate mounting and/or coupling the fuelslide 9306 of the engine 312A to the auger duct 9308 of the engine 312A.The panel 9540 of the fuel slide 9306 is oriented and/or angled at arear-to-front decline (e.g., the rear end 9544 of the panel 9540 ishigher than the front end 9542 of the panel 9540). The panel 9540 isconfigured to receive pellet fuel exiting the auger duct 9308 of theengine 312A, and to feed and/or direct the received pellet fueldownwardly and/or forwardly from the rear (e.g., upper) end 9544 of thepanel 9540 to the front (e.g., lower) end 9542 of the panel 9540, andsubsequently into the burn pot 9314 of the engine 312A.

The auger duct 9308 of the engine 312A of FIGS. 93-102 extends throughand is partially supported by an example opening 9556 formed in theframe 9302 of the engine 312A. The auger duct 9308 also extends throughand is partially supported by the opening 9554 formed proximate the rear(e.g., upper) end 9544 of the panel 9540 of the fuel slide 9306. In theillustrated example of FIGS. 93-102, the auger duct 9308 is acylindrical shaped structure that is configured (e.g., sized, shapedand/or arranged) to house and/or contain the auger 9310 of the engine312A, along with pellet fuel to be fed and/or supplied by the auger 9310from the feed duct 1602 of the hopper 132 of the pellet grill 100 to thepanel 9540 of the fuel slide 9306 of the engine 312A. The auger duct9308 of FIGS. 93-102 includes and/or is defined by an example front end9558, an example rear end 9560 located opposite the front end 9558, andan example sidewall 9562 extending between the front end 9558 and therear end 9560. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 93-102, the augerduct 9308 is oriented and/or angled at a rear-to-front incline (e.g.,the rear end 9560 of the auger duct 9308 is lower than the front end9558 of the auger duct 9308). The auger duct 9308 is coupled to anexample duct base 9564. The duct base 9564 is configured (e.g., sized,shaped and/or arranged) to facilitate coupling the auger duct 9308 tothe auger 9310 and/or to the auger motor 9312 of the engine 312A.

The auger duct 9308 of FIGS. 93-102 further includes an example firstopening 9566 formed in the front end 9558 of the auger duct 9308, anexample second opening 9568 formed in the rear end 9560 of the augerduct 9308, and an example third opening 9570 formed in an upper portionof the sidewall 9562 of the auger duct 9308. The first and secondopenings 9566, 9568 of the auger duct 9308 are respectively configured(e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to enable the auger duct 9308 tobe slidingly positioned around and/or over (e.g., over the length of)the auger 9310 such that the auger 9310 is housed and/or containedwithin the auger duct 9308. The third opening 9570 of the auger duct9308 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to receivepellet fuel from the feed duct 1602 of the hopper 132 of the pelletgrill 100.

The auger 9310 of the engine 312A of FIGS. 93-102 extends through theauger duct 9308 of the engine 312A. The auger 9310 is configured (e.g.,sized, shaped and/or arranged) to move pellet fuel received within theauger duct 9308 either towards (e.g., during a cooking operation) oraway from (e.g., in response to a jam of the auger 9310, and/or duringan end-of-cook purge of the pellet fuel) the front end 9558 of the augerduct 9308 and/or the panel 9540 of the fuel slide 9306 of the engine312A. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 93-102, the auger 9310includes an example front end 9572 oriented toward the front end 9558 ofthe auger duct 9308, an example rear end 9574 located opposite the frontend 9572 of the auger 9310 and oriented toward the rear end 9560 of theauger duct 9308, and an example spiral shaped coil and/or fighting 9576that extends between the front end 9572 and the rear end 9574 of theauger 9310. The fighting 9576 of the auger 9310 of FIGS. 93-102 is anon-variable pitch (e.g., a constant pitch) fighting. In other examples,the fighting 9576 of the auger 9310 can be a variable pitch fightinghaving an increasing rear-to-front pitch (e.g., the fighting spacingincreases moving from the rear end 9574 of the auger 9310 to the frontend 9572 of the auger 9310). Movement of the auger 9310 (e.g., thedirection of rotation, rate of rotation, and/or duty cycle of the auger2212) can be controlled via the auger motor 9312 of the engine 312A.

The auger motor 9312 of the engine 312A of FIGS. 93-102 is coupled tothe auger 9310 and to the duct base 9564. The auger motor 9312 includesan example shaft 9578 that operatively couples the auger motor 9312 tothe fighting 9576 of the auger 9310 to provide for motor-driven rotationthereof. The auger motor 9312 controls the movement (e.g., the directionof rotation, rate of rotation, and/or duty cycle) of the auger 9310. Inthe illustrated example of FIGS. 93-102, the auger motor 9312 is acontrollable, DC-powered, variable-speed electric motor that operates inresponse to data, commands and/or signals received from a control system(e.g., the control system 8200 of FIG. 82 described above) of the pelletgrill 100.

In some examples, the auger motor 9312 of FIG. 93-102 causes the auger9310 to rotate in a first (e.g., clockwise) direction to move pelletfuel contained in the auger duct 9308 away from the rear end 9560 of theauger duct 9308 and/or toward the front end 9558 of the auger duct 9308,and/or toward the panel 9540 of the fuel slide 9306 of the engine 312A.The auger motor 9312 of FIGS. 93-102 can also cause the auger 9310 torotate in a second (e.g., counterclockwise) direction to move pelletfuel contained in the auger duct 9308 away from the front end 9558 ofthe auger duct 9308 and/or toward the rear end 9560 of the auger duct9308, and/or away from the panel 9540 of the fuel slide 9306 of theengine 312A. Thus, the auger 9310 of the engine 312A is a reversibleauger, the direction of rotation of which is controlled via the augermotor 9312 of the engine 312A. The auger motor 9312, auger 9310, andauger duct 9308 of FIGS. 93-102 form an auger assembly that is removable(e.g., rearwardly) from the engine 312A (e.g., via removal and/oropening of the access door 1604 covering the opening 1606 of the rearwall 1502 of the hopper 132).

The burn pot 9314 and the fuel grate 9502 of the engine 312A of FIGS.93-102 are structured and/or configured in a manner that issubstantially the same as the burn pot 2216 and the fuel grate 2402 ofthe engine 312 of FIGS. 22-41 described above. Thus, the burn pot 2216and the fuel grate 2402 of the engine 312 of FIGS. 22-41 can beimplemented as the burn pot 9314 and the fuel grate 9502 of the engine312A. For example, the burn pot 9314 of FIGS. 93-102 can include theupper end 3102, the lower end 3104, the sidewall 3106, the first opening3108, the through-holes 3110, the second opening 3202, the third opening3204, and the central axis 3402 of the burn pot 2216 of FIGS. 22-41described above, and the fuel grate 9502 of FIGS. 93-102 can include theupper surface 4002, the trough 4004, the first flanges 4006, the secondflanges 4010, and the openings 4010 of the fuel grate 2402 of FIGS.22-41 described above. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 93-102, theburn pot 9314 includes example flanges 9326 extending downwardly fromthe upper plate 9324 of the burn pot 9314 outwardly of the firstsidewall 9518 and the second sidewall 9520 of the housing 9304 of theengine 312A. The flanges 9326 of the burn pot 9314 assist in locatingthe burn pot 9314 within the housing 9304 at a central position betweenthe first sidewall 9518 and the second sidewall 9520 of the housing9304.

The ignitor 9504 of the engine 312A of FIGS. 93-102 includes an examplefront end 9580, an example rear end 9582 located opposite the front end9580 of the ignitor 9504, and an example shaft 9584 extending from thefront end 9580 toward the rear end 9582 of the ignitor 9504. In theillustrated example of FIGS. 93-102, the front end 9580 of the ignitor9504 extends though one of the openings (e.g., one of the openings 4010)formed in the trough (e.g., the trough 4004) of the fuel grate 9502 suchthat the front end 9580 of the ignitor 9504 is positioned and/or locatedwithin the trough of the fuel grate 9502 and/or, more generally, withinthe burn pot 9314 of the engine 312A. The rear end 9582 of the ignitor9504 is positioned and/or located within, and/or is supported by, theignitor carrier 9506. A middle portion of the shaft 9584 of the ignitor9504 extends thought the third opening of the sidewall (e.g., the thirdopening 3204 of the sidewall 3106) of the burn pot 9314. A rearwardportion of the shaft 9584 is supported by and/or removably coupled tothe ignitor carrier 9506. The ignitor 9504 can be activated and/or firedto produce, generate, and/or output heat that causes pellet fuelpositioned and/or located within the burn pot 9314 (e.g., positionedand/or located on the fuel grate 9502 of the burn pot 9314) to igniteand/or commence combustion. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 93-102,the ignitor 9504 is a controllable, DC-powered glow plug that operatesin response to data, commands and/or signals received from a controlsystem (e.g., the control system 8200 of FIG. 82 described below) of thepellet grill 100.

The ignitor carrier 9506 of the engine 312A of FIGS. 93-102 includes anexample front end 9586, an example rear end 9588 located opposite thefront end 9586 of the ignitor carrier 9506, and example arms 9590extending between the front end 9586 and the rear end 9588 of theignitor carrier 9506. The front end 9586 of the ignitor carrier 9506includes an example connection socket 9592 that is configured (e.g.,sized, shaped and/or arranged) to receive the rear end 9582 and/or therearward portion of the shaft 9584 of the ignitor 9504. The ignitor 9504is supported and/or carried by the ignitor carrier 9506, and isremovably couplable to the ignitor carrier 9506 via the connectionsocket 9592 located at the front end 9586 of the ignitor carrier 9506.The rear end 9588 of the ignitor carrier 9506 forms the rear tab 9538 ofthe ignitor carrier 9506 which, as described above, is accessible to auser of the pellet grill 100 from the rear side of the housing 9304 ofthe engine 312A of FIGS. 93-102 (e.g., via removal and/or opening of theaccess door 1604 covering the opening 1606 of the rear wall 1502 of thehopper 132).

The ignitor carrier 9506 and the ignitor 9504 of FIGS. 93-102 can beremoved (e.g., to facilitate replacement of the ignitor 9504) from thehousing 9304 of the engine 312A and/or, more generally, from the pelletgrill 100 via the rear tab 9538 of the ignitor carrier 9506. Forexample, pulling the ignitor carrier 9506 rearwardly via the rear tab9538 of the ignitor carrier 9506 causes the ignitor 9504 to be removedfrom the trough of the fuel grate 9502 (e.g., through one of theopenings 4010 formed in the trough 4004), removed from the burn pot 9314of the engine 312A (e.g., through the third opening 3204 formed in thesidewall 3106 of the burn pot 9314), and removed from the housing 9304of the engine 312A (e.g., through the second opening 9530 formed in therear wall 9516 of the housing 9304). Once the ignitor carrier 9506 andthe ignitor 9504 have been removed from the housing 9304 and/or thepellet grill 100, the ignitor 9504 can in turn be removed from theignitor carrier 9506 (e.g., by pulling the ignitor 9504 out of theconnection socket 9592 of the ignitor carrier 9506) and replaced withanother (e.g., a new and/or replacement) ignitor 9506. The ignitorcarrier 9506 and the replacement ignitor 9504 can thereafter bereinserted and/or slid back into the housing 9304 and/or the pelletgrill 100, with the reinsertion, sliding and/or positioning of theignitor 9504 and the ignitor carrier 9506 being guided by the flanges10206 of the ignitor carrier guide 9512 located within the housing 9304.

The fan 9318 of the engine 312A of FIGS. 93-102 is coupled to the bottomwall 9522 of the housing 9304 of the engine 312A via the fan retainer9320. The fan retainer 9320 includes an example grate 9402 that isconfigured (e.g., sized and/or shaped) to allow air to pass into the fan9318 while also advantageously preventing solid foreign objects frominadvertently being drawn into the fan 9318. In the illustrated exampleof FIGS. 93-102, the fan 9318 and the fan retainer 9320 are locatedand/or positioned in vertical alignment with the fourth opening 9532 ofthe housing 9304. The fan 9318 produces, generates, outputs, and/orcontrols an airflow to be directed through the housing 9304 form the fan9318, past the first and second air guides 9508, 9510, and to the burnpot 9314. The airflow produced, generated, and/or output by the fan 9318can subsequently pass from the burn pot 9314 into the cooking chamber1002 of the pellet grill 100 to provide a controlled circulation of hotair within the cooking chamber 1002. In the illustrated example of FIGS.93-102, the fan 9318 is a controllable, DC-powered, variable-speedelectric motor fan that operates in response to data, commands and/orsignals received from a control system (e.g., the control system 8200 ofFIG. 82 described below) of the pellet grill 100.

FIG. 103 is a perspective view of an alternate example grease deflectionbar assembly 320A of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13. FIG. 104 is topview of the grease deflection bar assembly 320A of FIG. 103 positionedwithin the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13. FIG. 105 is a cross-sectionalview of the grease deflection bar assembly 320A of FIGS. 103 and 104taken along section V-V of FIG. 104. FIG. 106 is a cross-sectional viewof the grease deflection bar assembly 320A of FIGS. 103-105 taken alongsection W-W of FIG. 104. The grease deflection bar assembly 320A ofFIGS. 103-106 can be implemented as an alternative to the greasedeflection bar assembly 320 of FIGS. 54-62 described above.

The grease deflection bar (e.g., FLAVORIZER® bar) assembly 320A of FIGS.103-106 includes an example front rack 10302, an example rear rack 10304located opposite the front rack 10302, an example first (e.g., larger)grease deflection bar 10306 located between the front rack 10302 and therear rack 10304 and extending parallel thereto, and example second(e.g., smaller) grease deflection bars 10308 located between the frontrack 10302 and the rear rack 10304 and extending parallel thereto, withthe respective locations of the second grease deflection bars 10308being spaced apart from one another and spaced apart from the locationof the first grease deflection bar. As shown in FIGS. 105 and 106, thegrease deflection bar assembly 320A further includes example third(e.g., smaller) grease deflection bars 10502 extending from the frontrack 10302 to the rear rack 10304 at respective locations that arelaterally spaced apart from one another. In the illustrated example ofFIGS. 103-106, the third grease deflection bars 10502 support, carryand/or position the first (e.g., larger) grease deflection bar 10306 andthe second (e.g., smaller) grease deflection bars 10308.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 103-106, the first grease deflectionbar 10306 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320A is positionedand/or located at a central front-to-back location of the greasedeflection bar assembly 320A, one of the second grease deflection bars10308 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320A is located forward ofthe first grease deflection bar 10306, and another one of the secondgrease deflection bars 10308 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320Ais located rearward of the first grease deflection bar 10306. As shownin FIGS. 105 and 106, the first grease deflection bar 10306 of thegrease deflection bar assembly 320A is positioned and/or located at acentralized position and/or location above the heat diffuser 318 and/orabove the burn pot 2216 of the pellet grill 100.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 103-106, the first grease deflectionbar 10306 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320A has a front-to-backextent that is equal to and/or greater than the front-to-back extent ofthe heat diffuser 318 and/or the front-to-back extent of the burn pot2216. The first grease deflection bar 10306, the second greasedeflection bars 10308, and/or the third grease deflection bars 10502advantageously direct(s) grease (e.g., as may be received at the firstgrease deflection bar 10306, the second grease deflection bars 10308,and/or the third grease deflection bars 10502 from food being cooked onthe first cooking grate 302 and/or the second cooking grate 304positioned above the grease deflection bar assembly 320A of the pelletgrill 100) toward one or more of the grease channels 902 formed in thebottom of the outer wall 108 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill100. The front-to-back extent of the first grease deflection bar 10306advantageously restricts and/or reduces the ability of grease fromcontacting and/or entering the heat diffuser 318 and/or the burn pot2216 of the pellet grill 100.

The front rack 10302 and the rear rack 10304 of the grease deflectionbar assembly 320A of FIGS. 103-106 are removably positioned on and/orsupported by tabs, flanges and/or mounts that extend inwardly from theouter wall 108 of the main body 102 of the pellet grill 100. The thirdgrease deflection bars 10502 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320Aof FIGS. 103-106 are removably positioned on and/or supported by thefront and rear racks 10302, 10304 of the grease deflection bar assembly320A. The first grease deflection bar 10306 and the second greasedeflection bars 10308 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320A ofFIGS. 103-106 are removably positioned on and/or supported by the thirdgrease deflection bars 10502.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 103-106, respective ones of thefirst, second and third grease deflection bars 10306, 10308, 10502 ofthe grease deflection bar assembly 320A can be removed from the frontand rear racks 10302, 10304 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320Aand/or, more generally, removed from the pellet grill 100 withoutrequiring removal of any mechanical fasteners, thereby improving theease with which the first, second and third grease deflection bars10306, 10308, 10502 can be cleaned and/or replaced, and/or improving theease with which a user can access the lower portion of the cookingchamber 1002 of the pellet grill 100. Respective ones of the front andrear racks 10302, 10304 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320A canalso be removed from the pellet grill 100 without requiring removal ofany mechanical fasteners, thereby improving the ease with which thefront and rear racks 103002, 10304 can be cleaned and/or replaced,and/or improving the ease with which a user can access portions of thecooking chamber 1002 of the pellet grill 100 that would otherwise beobstructed by the front and rear racks 10302, 10304 of the greasedeflection bar assembly 320A.

As further shown in FIGS. 103-106, an example support frame 10310 can bepositioned on the grease deflection bar assembly 320A such that thesupport frame 10310 extends between the front and rear racks 10302,10304 of the grease deflection bar assembly 320A. The support frame10310 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to supportand/or carry an example water pan 10312 that may be filled with a volumeof water. The support frame 10310 is further configured (e.g., sized,shaped and/or arranged) to be laterally slidable along the front andrear racks 10302, 10304 of the grease deflection bar assembly 302A suchthat the location of the water pan 10312 may be moved and/or adjustedlaterally within the cooking chamber 1002 of the pellet grill 100. Asshown in FIGS. 104-106, the grease deflection bar assembly 320A, thesupport frame 10310, and the water pan 10312 are collectively configured(e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to enable both the support frame10310 and the water pan 10312 to be positioned between the greasedeflection bar assembly 320A and the first cooking grate 302 of thepellet grill 100.

FIG. 107 is a perspective view of an alternate example waste collectiondrawer 134A of the pellet grill 100 of FIGS. 1-13. FIG. 108 is anexploded view of the waste collection drawer 134A of FIG. 107. FIG. 109is a front view of the waste collection drawer 134A of FIGS. 107 and108. FIG. 110 is a rear view of the waste collection drawer 134A ofFIGS. 107-109. FIG. 111 is a top view of the waste collection drawer134A of FIGS. 107-110. FIG. 112 is a cross-sectional view of the wastecollection drawer 134A of FIGS. 107-111 taken along section X-X of FIG.111. FIG. 113 is a cross-sectional view of the waste collection drawer134A of FIGS. 107-112 taken along section Y-Y of FIG. 111. The wastecollection drawer 134A of FIGS. 107-113 can be implemented as analternative to the waste collection drawer 134 of FIGS. 63-69 describedabove.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 107-113, the waste collection drawer134A includes an example drawer support frame 10702, an example drawer10704, an example bin positioner 10706, an example ash compartment10708, an example grease bin receptacle 10710, and an example grease bin10712. The drawer support frame 10702 of FIGS. 107-113 supports and/orcarries the drawer 10704 of the waste collection drawer 134A. Theinterior of the drawer 10704 of FIGS. 107-113 defines the ashcompartment 10708 of the waste collection drawer 134A. The binpositioner 10706 of FIGS. 107-113 supports and/or carries the grease binreceptacle 10710 of the waste collection drawer 134A. The grease binreceptacle 10710 of FIGS. 107-113 supports and/or carries the grease bin10712. In some examples, the bottom of the grease bin receptacle 10710of FIGS. 107-113 is spaced apart from the underlying surface of the ashcompartment 10708 of FIGS. 107-113 such that ash passing into an examplerear portion 10714 of the ash compartment 10708 can freely pass beneaththe bottom of the grease bin receptacle 10710 and toward an examplefront portion 10802 of the ash compartment 10708.

The rear portion 10714 of the ash compartment 10708 of the wastecollection drawer 134A is positioned in vertical alignment with thesecond opening 3202 and/or the fuel grate 2402 of the burn pot 2216 ofthe pellet grill 100, and/or in vertical alignment with the ash slide2404 of the engine 312 of the pellet grill 100. Alternatively, the rearportion 10714 of the ash compartment 10708 of the waste collectiondrawer 134A is positioned in vertical alignment with the second opening3202 and/or the fuel grate 9502 of the burn pot 9314 of the pellet grill100, and/or in vertical alignment with the ash slide 9316 of the engine312A of the pellet grill 100. The grease bin 10712 of the wastecollection drawer 134A is positioned forward of the rear portion 10714of the ash compartment 10708, and/or in vertical alignment with thegrease channels 902 formed in the bottom of the outer wall 108 of themain body 102 of the pellet grill 100.

The drawer support frame 10702 of the waste collection drawer 134A ofFIGS. 107-113 includes an example first (e.g., left) sidewall 10804, anexample second (e.g., right) sidewall 10806 located opposite the firstsidewall 10804, an example rear wall 10808 extending between the firstand second sidewalls 10804, 10806, an example bottom wall 10810extending between the first and second sidewalls 10804, 10806 forward ofthe rear wall 10808, an example cover plate 10812 extending the betweenthe first and second sidewalls 10804, 10806, example first flanges 10814extending outwardly from the forward ends of the first and secondsidewalls 10804, 10806, and example second flanges 10816 extendingrearwardly from the rear wall 10808. The first flanges 10814 of thedrawer support frame 10702 are configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/orarranged) to mount and/or couple the drawer support frame 10702 to thecross member 126 of the pellet grill 100. The second flanges 10816 ofthe drawer support frame 10702 are configured (e.g., sized, shapedand/or arranged) to mount and/or couple the drawer support frame 10702to second housing 2206 of the engine 312 (or, alternatively, to thehousing 9304 of the engine 312A) of the pellet grill 100. The coverplate 10812 includes an example mechanical stop 10818 that may beformed, for example, by a downwardly-extending flange. The mechanicalstop 10818 of the drawer support frame 10702 is configured (e.g., sized,shaped and/or arranged) to provide a forward stop to prevent the drawer10704 of the waste collection drawer 134A of FIGS. 107-113 from beingunintentionally removed (e.g., forwardly) from the drawer support frame10702 when the drawer 10704 is being moved from a closed position to anopen position.

The drawer 10704 of the waste collection drawer 134A of FIGS. 107-113includes an example front wall 10820, an example rear wall 10822 locatedopposite the front wall 10820 of the drawer 10704, an example first(e.g., left) sidewall 10824 extending between the front wall 10820 andthe rear wall 10822 of the drawer 10704, an example second (e.g., right)sidewall 10826 located opposite the first sidewall 10824 of the drawer10704 and extending between the front wall 10820 and the rear wall 10822of the drawer 10704, and an example bottom wall 10828 extending betweenthe front wall 10820 and the rear wall 10822 of the drawer 10704 andfurther extending between the first sidewall 10824 and the secondsidewall 10826 of the drawer 10704. The drawer 10704 is configured(e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to slidingly mate with drawersupport frame 10702. The drawer 10704 of the waste collection drawer134A of FIGS. 107-113 is accordingly slidable relative to the drawersupport frame 10702 of the waste collection drawer 134A of FIGS.107-113. The front wall 10820 of the drawer 10704 of FIGS. 107-113includes an example tab 10830 that, like the tab 136 of the wastecollection drawer 134 of FIGS. 63-69 described above, facilitates movingthe drawer 10704 from a closed position to an open position, orvice-versa.

The bin positioner 10706 of the waste collection drawer 134A of FIGS.107-113 is formed as a bar extending between, and coupled at a fixedlocation to, the first and second sidewalls 10824, 10826 of the drawer10704. The bin positioner 10706 is configured (e.g., sized, shapedand/or arranged) to support and/or carry the grease bin receptacle 10710within the ash compartment 10708 and/or within the drawer 10704 of thewaste collection drawer 134A. In some examples, the bin positioner 10706of FIGS. 107-113 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) toposition the grease bin receptacle 10710 of the waste collection drawer134A at a height that causes a bottom wall of the grease bin receptacle10710 to be spaced apart from the underlying surface of the ashcompartment 10708 of FIGS. 107-113, such that ash passing into the rearportion 10714 of the ash compartment 10708 can freely pass beneath thebottom of the grease bin receptacle 10710 and toward the front portion10802 of the ash compartment 10708.

The front wall 10820, the rear wall 10822, the first sidewall 10824, thesecond sidewall 10826, and the bottom wall 10828 of the drawer 10704 ofFIGS. 107-113 collectively define the ash compartment 10708 of the wastecollection drawer 134A. The rear portion 10714 of the ash compartment10708 is located rearward of the grease bin receptable 10710 of thewaste collection drawer 134A, and the front portion 10802 of the ashcompartment 10708 is located forward of the grease bin receptacle 10710of the waste collection drawer 134A. In some examples, the ashcompartment 10708 is vertically aligned with and/or positioned below thesecond opening 3202 and/or the fuel grate 2402 of the burn pot 2216 ofthe pellet grill 100, and/or below the ash slide 2404 of the engine 312of the pellet grill 100, thereby facilitating the ash compartment 10708receiving ash from the burn pot 2216 and/or the ash slide 2404 of thepellet grill 100. In other examples, the ash compartment 10708 isvertically aligned with and/or positioned below the second opening 3202and/or the fuel grate 9502 of the burn pot 9314 of the pellet grill 100,and/or below the ash slide 9316 of the engine 312A of the pellet grill100, thereby facilitating the ash compartment 10708 receiving ash fromthe burn pot 9314 and/or the ash slide 9316 of the pellet grill 100.When the waste collection drawer 134A is in an open position (e.g., whenthe drawer 10704 is pulled forward and/or removed from the drawersupport frame 10702), the contents (e.g., ash) of the ash compartment10708 may be removed and/or disposed from the ash compartment 10708.

The grease bin receptacle 10710 of the waste collection drawer 134A ofFIGS. 107-113 includes an example front wall 10832, an example rear wall10834 located opposite the front wall 10832 of the grease bin receptacle10710, an example first (e.g., left) sidewall 10836 extending betweenthe front wall 10832 and the rear wall 10834 of the grease binreceptacle 10710, an example second (e.g., right) sidewall 10838 locatedopposite the first sidewall 10836 of the grease bin receptacle 10710 andextending between the front wall 10832 and the rear wall 10834 of thegrease bin receptacle 10710, an example bottom wall 10840 extendingbetween the front wall 10832 and the rear wall 10834 of the grease binreceptacle 10710 and further extending between the first sidewall 10836and the second sidewall 10838 of the grease bin receptacle 10710, and anexample flange 10842 extending rearwardly and downwardly from an upperportion of the rear wall 10834 of the grease bin receptacle 10710. Thegrease bin receptacle 10710 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/orarranged) to support, carry and/or position the grease bin 10712. Theflange 10842 of the grease bin receptacle 10710 is configured (e.g.,sized, shaped and/or arranged) to extend and/or hang over the binpositioner 10706 of the waste collection drawer 134A, thereby fixing theposition and/or location of the grease bin receptacle 10710 within theash compartment 10708 and/or within the drawer 10704 of the wastecollection drawer 134A.

The grease bin 10712 of the waste collection drawer 134A of FIGS.107-113 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped and/or arranged) to besupported, carried and/or positioned by the grease bin receptacle 10710.The grease bin 10712 is vertically aligned with and/or positioned belowthe grease channels 902 formed in the bottom of the outer wall 108 ofthe main body 102 of the pellet grill 100, thereby facilitating thegrease bin 10712 receiving grease from the cooking chamber 1002 and/orthe main body 102 of the pellet grill 100. The grease bin 10712 isremovable from the grease bin receptacle 10710 and/or the drawer 10704when the waste collection drawer 134A is in an open position (e.g., whenthe drawer 10704 is pulled forward and/or removed from the drawersupport frame 10702), thereby facilitating the removal and/or disposalof the contents (e.g., grease) of the grease bin 10712.

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacturehave been disclosed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is notlimited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods,apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope ofthe claims of this patent.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pellet grill, comprising: one or moreprocessors configured to: detect an improper shutdown of a controlsystem of the pellet grill; in response to the control system regainingpower following detection of the improper shutdown, generate anotification indicating that the control system was improperly shutdown;and cause the notification to be presented at a user interface of thepellet grill.
 2. The pellet grill of claim 1, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to detect the improper shutdown by detectingan unexpected loss of power to the control system.
 3. The pellet grillof claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured tocause the notification to be wirelessly transmitted from the pelletgrill to a device located remotely from the pellet grill.
 4. The pelletgrill of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are furtherconfigured to initiate a diagnostic check of the control system inresponse to the control system regaining power following detection ofthe improper shutdown.
 5. The pellet grill of claim 4, wherein the oneor more processors are further configured to initiate a startup protocolof the control system following completion of the diagnostic check. 6.The pellet grill of claim 1, further comprising an auger and an augermotor operatively coupled to the auger, wherein the one or moreprocessors are further configured to: in response to the control systemregaining power following detection of the improper shutdown, commandthe auger motor to repeatedly pulse the auger between a first directionof rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite the firstdirection; determine, based on the pulsed rotation of the auger, whetherthe auger is jammed; and in response to determining that the auger isjammed, initiate a protocol to clear the jam.
 7. The pellet grill ofclaim 6, wherein the auger motor is a direct current (DC) poweredelectric motor.
 8. The pellet grill of claim 1, further comprising a fanand a burn pot, wherein the one or more processors are furtherconfigured to command the fan to operate in a pulsed output mode inresponse to the control system regaining power following detection ofthe improper shutdown, the operation of the fan in the pulsed outputmode to cause ash located in the burn pot to be removed from the burnpot.
 9. The pellet grill of claim 8, wherein the fan is a direct current(DC) powered electric fan.
 10. A method, comprising: detecting, via oneor more processors of a pellet grill, an improper shutdown of a controlsystem of the pellet grill; in response to the control system regainingpower following detection of the improper shutdown, generating, via theone or more processors, a notification indicating that the controlsystem was improperly shutdown; and presenting the notification at auser interface of the pellet grill.
 11. The method of claim 10, whereindetecting the improper shutdown includes detecting an unexpected loss ofpower to the control system.
 12. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising initiating, via the one or more processors, a diagnosticcheck of the control system in response to the control system regainingpower following detection of the improper shutdown.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising initiating, via the one or more processors,a startup protocol of the control system following completion of thediagnostic check.
 14. The method of claim 10, further comprising: inresponse to the control system regaining power following detection ofthe improper shutdown, commanding, via the one or more processors, anauger motor of the pellet grill operatively coupled to an auger of thepellet grill to repeatedly pulse the auger between a first direction ofrotation and a second direction of rotation opposite the firstdirection; determining, via the one or more processors, based on thepulsed rotation of the auger, whether the auger is jammed; and inresponse to determining that the auger is jammed, initiating, via theone or more processors, a protocol to clear the jam.
 15. The method ofclaim 10, further comprising commanding, via the one or more processors,a fan of the pellet grill to operate in a pulsed output mode in responseto the control system regaining power following detection of theimproper shutdown, the operation of the fan in the pulsed output mode tocause ash located in the burn pot to be removed from the burn pot.
 16. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructionsthat, when executed, cause one or more processors of a pellet grill toat least: detect an improper shutdown of a control system of the pelletgrill; in response to the control system regaining power followingdetection of the improper shutdown, generate a notification indicatingthat the control system was improperly shutdown; and cause thenotification to be presented at a user interface of the pellet grill.17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or moreprocessors to detect the improper shutdown by detecting an unexpectedloss of power to the control system.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions,when executed, cause the one or more processors to initiate a diagnosticcheck of the control system in response to the control system regainingpower following detection of the improper shutdown.
 19. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein theinstructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to: inresponse to the control system regaining power following detection ofthe improper shutdown, command an auger motor of the pellet grilloperatively coupled to an auger of the pellet grill to repeatedly pulsethe auger between a first direction of rotation and a second directionof rotation opposite the first direction; determine, based on the pulsedrotation of the auger, whether the auger is jammed; and in response todetermining that the auger is jammed, initiate a protocol to clear thejam.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim16, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or moreprocessors to command a fan of the pellet grill to operate in a pulsedoutput mode in response to the control system regaining power followingdetection of the improper shutdown, the operation of the fan in thepulsed output mode to cause ash located in the burn pot to be removedfrom the burn pot.